As one of the UK's most picturesque holiday destinations, the Lake District is top of many people's travel wishlists for its ideal mix of nature, great places to eat and plenty to do.
But, having been to the Lakes half a dozen times over the years, I realised on a recent visit that some lakes are more well-known than others. I've always stayed around the more headline-grabbing areas of Windermere, Ambleside and Bowness and, pulling into the drive at Armathwaite Hall Hotel and getting my first glimpse of the stunning landscape around Bassenthwaite Lake, I realised I had been missing out on a Cumbrian hidden gem - although I soon realised that applied as much the Hall itself as its beautiful surroundings.
One of the original stately homes of England, there has been a manor house has been on the site in some form or another since around the 11th Century, although records about the main house go back to a relatively youthful 1548.
