Paddock House

Wray Castle is a Victorian neo-gothic building on the west shore of Windermere, looked after by the National Trust. The parkland has waymarked trails that start at the front of the castle, and the lakeshore has a shingle beach with easy access to the water.

Tip: You can arrive without a car: the Windermere Lake Cruises Green Cruise calls at Wray jetty from Ambleside, and it is a short walk up to the castle and café.

Lakes Aquarium sits in the village of Lakeside on the southern shore of Windermere. It opened in 1997 and is now themed around the lakes of the world, with both freshwater and salt water animals. Displays cover the Lake District, Asia, Africa, the Americas, marine life and Morecambe Bay.

Tip: The Windermere Lake Cruises dock and the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway are both here, so you can arrive by boat or steam train.

Dove Cottage is the whitewashed Lakeland house on the edge of Grasmere where William Wordsworth lived with his sister Dorothy. It is a Grade I listed building that remains largely unchanged from Wordsworth's day. Visits begin with an introductory tour led by a member of the team, taking you through rooms with slate floors and oak panelling.

Tip: Entry to the cottage is at timed slots, so book ahead online to secure your tour.

Hill Top is the 17th-century Lakeland farmhouse in Near Sawrey that Beatrix Potter bought in 1905 as her artistic retreat, and later left to the National Trust. Inside, it is shown as she would have known it.

Tip: Book your ticket in advance if arriving by car, as the small car park is for pre-booked visitors only. Afternoons after 2.30 tend to be quieter.

Sizergh is a Grade I listed castle and stately home about 4 miles south of Kendal, in the Lake District National Park. The oldest part is a tower from the fourteenth or fifteenth century. Inside, you'll find oak-panelled rooms, including the Inlaid Chamber, plus Strickland family portraits and paintings linked to the Stuart court in exile.

Tip: Dogs are welcome on the wider estate, but only assistance dogs are allowed in the gardens, so plan your route accordingly.

The Ruskin Museum sits in the heart of Coniston village and tells the story of the area, from Stone Age axe-makers to the speed record era of the 1950s and 60s. It was founded in 1901 as a memorial to John Ruskin, and his collection is still housed here.

Tip: The museum marks the start of the Coniston Coppermines Trail, so you can pair a visit with a walk.

Blackwell is a Grade I listed house above Windermere, designed by architect M H Baillie Scott as a holiday home. It keeps almost all of its original features, from the fireplace tiles, carved stone and wood panelling to stained glass, mosaic floors and the plasterwork of the White Drawing Room.

Tip: The tea room stops serving main meals at 3pm, so plan lunch accordingly.

Brantwood is a Grade II* listed house on the eastern shore of Coniston Water, once the home of the Victorian writer, artist and social reformer John Ruskin. Today it is a museum about his life and work. You can see rooms including his study, the drawing room and the turret bedroom, along with displays of his drawings and his mineral collection.

Tip: The gardens and woodland are steep in places, so wear footwear suited to a countryside walk. The lower gardens are suitable for all.