Dalemain Mansion & Historic Gardens

The house sits right beside the A592 between Penrith and Ullswater - you can't miss it, and that's rather the point. Dalemain is one of those grand estates that rewards a proper visit rather than a quick drive-by, though plenty of people do exactly that.

Inside, you're looking at a Georgian facade stuck onto a much older medieval pele tower - the kind of architectural compromise that English country houses do rather well. The rooms are genuinely lived-in feeling, full of furniture and paintings that actually belonged to families rather than being museum-standard displays. Upstairs holds a rather excellent costume and textiles collection if that sort of thing appeals to you.

The gardens are the real draw, though. Acres of them, proper landscaped grounds with herbaceous borders that actually know what they're doing. There's a working kitchen garden too, which is fairly rare these days. Spring brings the rhododendrons out something fierce.

Truth is, Dalemain works best for people who actually like country houses - architectural history bores, keen gardeners, the sort who enjoy a good wander around someone else's prize dahlias. Kids under ten will find an hour quite enough unless you let them loose in the grounds. It sits perfectly between Penrith town and the Ullswater lake district, making it a sensible half-day stop if you're based at one of the caravan parks like Waterfoot or Park Foot nearby.

Allow two to three hours minimum. Check ahead for opening times and admission prices - these things vary seasonally.