Linthwaite House

Set on a wooded rise above Bowness, Linthwaite House looks out across Windermere towards the Coniston fells — a view that has defined the house since it was built as a private residence in the Edwardian era. A thorough refurbishment under the Leeu Collection brought in bold colour, contemporary art and a much warmer, more personal kind of comfort than the starchy country-house formula it replaced.

Bedrooms vary considerably, which is part of the appeal: some are tucked under the eaves, others open onto terraces angled squarely at the water. Downstairs the mood is sociable rather than hushed, with a bar that encourages lingering and a dining room built around Cumbrian producers.

The grounds run to several acres of lawn, woodland and a small tarn, and the Dales-bound walking routes of the central Lakes begin within a short drive. It suits guests who want the scenery without surrendering to a hiking-boots-and-drying-room atmosphere.