The best b&bs in the Lake District

This slate-built Victorian cottage has been a b&b for some 50 years. Jacky Godfrey and Keith Fazey have given it a contemporary but comfortable country feel, with Farrow and Ball colours, plaids and bold florals, soft table lamps and just enough ornaments and local paintings to make it feel homely but not cluttered. Alongside a comfortable lounge with wool-upholstered armchairs, large sofas, an honesty bar (spirits, beers and wines plus smart glasses) and plenty of walking books, there's a sun-trap garden (perfect for evening sundowners), a drying room and cycle storage.

The term ‘bed and breakfast’ doesn’t do justice to this family-run luxury guest house with its Edwardian elegance, country house hotel comforts, lush gardens and relaxed personal touch; making it one of the best b&bs in the Lake District. Inside, it retains a gracious period feel but with a light touch: reception is a sideboard in the oak-panelled hall; sitting rooms are comfortable with traditional sofas, pale colours and plump window seats; the dining room shines with mirrors and picture windows overlooking the gardens and fells. The 14 rooms are distinctly, and attractively, different in shape but share the same style: plain carpets, brightly patterned or shimmery wallpapers, smart armchairs and fitted furniture.

The southern area of the Lake District, on the coast of Morecambe Bay, has traditionally been overlooked for the famous fells ; but as the Lakes become full of tourists, towns like Arnside are coming into their own. The classic seaside terraced houses on the promenade all offer views over the Kent Estuary, but No.43 is probably in the best spot of all, right next to the pub, and it's also the smartest. The timbers have recently been touched up with green paint and a seating area has been provided in the garden. Inside, the Regency furniture gives a feel of Brighton and other Georgian seaside towns, whilst black-and-white photographs and candy-striped colours add a modern feel.

A bold and unashamedly sexy b&b with lashings of black and silver, and huge mood-lit bathrooms that place an emphasis on relaxation and romance. The eight vast rooms (three with patios, two with private entrances) follow the same suave, 'night-club' theme with statement lampshades and a 'fifty shades of grey' colour scheme in textured wallpapers, brocade curtains and velvet throws. Lazy breakfasts are served in-room, and includes everything from croissants, porridge and granola to eggs Benedict, cold meat platters and full-cooked. It's at the edge of Windermere town, on the main road to the lake. A big plus is that Windermere railway station is only 10 minutes up the road.

Moss Grove Organic is more city boutique than country cosy - the Victorian house has been refurbished with a combination of high-class furnishings and eco-friendly materials. The 11 rooms really dazzle. Every effort has been made to ensure environmental friendliness: floors and furniture are made from reclaimed wood, walls are stuffed with sheep's wool insulation, and even the clay paints are organic and biodegradable. The bathrooms are equally huge and gleam with sandstone tiles and spa tubs. It's right in the middle of Grasmere, so you're in a plum position for all the sights.

This tiny, extravagantly decorated bed and breakfast, set in fabulous rolling countryside at the heart of Beatrix Potter country, offers three luxury suites and the best bathrooms in the Lake District. It's a bit of an unusual set-up in as much as there’s no shared lounges or dining rooms. Suites open straight out onto the garden, where there is a small potbellied heater and barbeque for use on summer evenings — or you might prefer to hang out in the bowtop gypsy caravan. The whole place is decorated in a brilliantly lavish, humorous style – expect gilt-framed mirrors, metallic tiles, floor-length swag curtains and freestanding baths.