Clifton Hall

The approach to Clifton Hall is what gets you first - a long drive through proper Cumbrian countryside that feels like you've stumbled into a stately home film set. This Grade I listed mansion sits just outside Penrith and speaks volumes about Georgian wealth and taste, all honey-coloured stone and symmetrical windows that catch the light just so.

You can't actually get inside the house itself, which is a shame, but the exterior and grounds are accessible and worth a look if you're passing through the area. The building's architecture - that restrained elegance typical of the period - repays a slow walk around the perimeter. It's the kind of place that makes you wonder about the lives lived within those walls, the servants' quarters, the balls held in rooms you can't see.

History enthusiasts will get the most out of a visit, particularly those interested in 18th-century domestic architecture and the evolution of rural estates. It's not a half-day attraction by any means - thirty minutes to an hour if you're thorough, less if you're just passing. Families with young children might find it underwhelming since there's no interactive element; older kids studying Georgian period architecture would fare better.

If you're based at Lowther Holiday Park or Crossfells Campsite - both practically on the doorstep - this makes a decent leg-stretching detour during your stay. Combine it with a walk around the surrounding countryside rather than expecting it to be a standalone event. Free to view from outside, which is how it should be.