The 5-Star Gold guest house is just north of Carlisle, within driving distance of the Lake District and just south of the Scottish border.

At Bessiestown Country Guesthouse you can enjoy peace, beautiful public rooms and traditional meals made with local ingredients. There are many walks nearby, and Bessiestown has a swimming pool (open in warmer months).

Overlooking the busy market town of Penrith, the Roundthorn Country House is located in an extremely peaceful and secluded environment, only minutes from the M6 and A66. All of the en suite rooms are unique in character and furnished to the highest standard. The house has its own bar/lounge and a cosy residents' lounge with a real fire in the winter where you can relax and unwind.

Served in the Eden Room each morning, the Great Cumbrian Breakfast is guaranteed to prepare you for the day ahead.

The bar/lounge area and several bedrooms and en suite bathrooms have been upgraded and refurbished in early 2008. The hotel has since been awarded a 5-Star Silver rating in the guest accommodation category by VisitBritain.

Relax amid the roaring log fires of the traditional bar; unwind in the inviting lounge; and treat yourself in the contemporary restaurant, where high quality meals are created from local fresh ingredients. Double and twin rooms are available, each fresh and clean and furnished with a pillow top bed and fluffy duvets.

Set amid beautiful landscape, you can walk within minutes to Devil's Bridge, Ruskin's View (famously painted by Turner), as well as the stunning walking region of the Lune Valley.

This is a 5 star AA rated guest house property and a rosette award for the restaurant

All rooms have LCD TVs, free Wi-Fi and home-made biscuits. The en suite bathrooms feature Bath House toiletries.

All of the en suite rooms at the friendly Beaumont House have tea/coffee and Freeview TV. All rooms have power showers or whirlpool baths.

Breakfast options include fish of the day and traditional cooked Cumbrian breakfasts, made with local produce.

The family-run Beaumont House has a lounge with sofas, books, magazines and an honesty bar. Beaumont House has received a 5-star Guest Accommodation rating from the AA and VisitBritain.

All of the 5-star rooms feature luxury en suite facilities, and are individually designed with modern furnishings. Rooms also offer tea and coffee making facilities and a flat-screen TV. Wheatlands holds a prestigious Silver Award from Visit Britain.

The classic Victorian property dates from 1860, and maintains its period features. Wheatlands Lodge has a garden and terrace for al fresco dining, and a traditional Cumbrian breakfast is served in the dining room, using locally sourced produce.

Just a few minutes’ walk from Windermere town centre, and 20 minutes from Bowness-on-Windermere, Wheatlands Lodge is centrally located for exploring the beautiful Lake District. The World of Beatrix Potter attraction is just 1 mile away.

In the heart of the beautiful Lake District, Woodlands is just a short walk from Lake Windermere and the shops, bars and cafes of Bowness. The World of Beatrix Potter is just 15 minutes away, and Windermere Golf Club is a 5 minute drive.

All of the stylish en suite rooms feature designer beds, LCD flat-screen TVs and luxurious toiletries from the White Company. Some rooms have four-poster beds.

A full English breakfast is served each morning and includes fresh, local produce. The bar serves a range of drinks, including freshly ground Italian coffee and organic wine.

Guests also receive free passes to The Macdonald Old England Hotel, which features a gym, fragrance shower, aroma steam room and swimming pool overlooking the lake.

Surrounded by wooded countryside, Knoll Country House offers individually designed rooms with TVs, iPod docks and modem points. All rooms have modern en suite facilities, some with power showers or luxury corner baths.

The on-site restaurant serves traditional Lakeland breakfasts and a full evening menu, using fresh local produce. In landscaped gardens, Knoll House boasts a central location for exploring the Lake District. Packed lunches and afternoon teas can also be arranged.

Guests receive free passes to the local facilities of Cascades at The White Water Hotel. They include a gym, swimming pool, steam room, sauna and jacuzzi. There is also a beauty salon offering a range of treatments.

Just a short stroll from the shores of Lake Windermere, Knoll House Hotel is 5 minutes’ walk from Lakeside Pier. The popular villages of Ambleside, Windermere and Hawkshead are within 20 minutes’ drive.

With Victorian character, some of the bedrooms at Broadoaks hotel feature whirlpool baths or four-poster beds. Some have river views and others have views of Lake Windermere.

The Michelin recommended restaurant offers fine dining, with a menu of local produce. Built in 1836, Broadoaks has original open fires, oak panelled walls and period furniture.

Guests may use the facilities at the nearby Windermere health club, including a spa, a fitness suite and a swimming pool. The club also has a sauna, a beauty salon and a steam room.

Number 43 has been awarded Cumbria Tourism Guest Accommodation of the Year 2010.

All of the rooms at Number 43 feature flat-screen TVs, tea/coffee and homemade biscuits. The Suites boast breathtaking views across the Kent Estuary towards the Lakeland Fells.

In the south of the Lake District, Number 43 has a Visit Britain 5-star Gold Award for Guest Accommodation, and is '5-star Highly Recommended' by the AA.

Number 43 provides award-winning local food, which can be enjoyed with a glass of wine whilst watching the striking sunsets from the terrace. Service is professional and friendly.

In an Area of Natural Outstanding Beauty, Number 43 is a 20-minute drive from Kendal, Kirkby Lonsdale and Elverston.

The Victorian building retains its period charm but has been updated throughout. The renovation work used eco-friendly and natural products from clay paint to sheep’s wool insulation.

Many of the beds are hand-made from reclaimed wood and feature duck down duvets and pillows and 100% cotton sheets. Fair trade tea and coffee and organic biscuits are available in the rooms.

Moss Grove serves a Mediterranean buffet breakfast using organic, fair trade and local produce. Free Wi-Fi and free on-site parking are available.

In Grassmere village centre, just over 500 metres from Grassmere Lake, Moss Grove Organic Hotel is in the heart of the Lake District. The hotel is a 10-minute drive from Thirlmere or Lake Windermere

Please note this property is a Visit Britain 5 star Gold Award Guest House accommodation.

Owners Stephen and Louise have established something fresh and exciting at The Cranleigh. The atmosphere is friendly and informal, while the accommodation has all the cutting edge style of an expensive boutique hotel.

The lounge is classic style, with open fire place, leather furniture and mellow decor; a great place to relax with a glass of wine, champagne or one of the local ales. Hearty breakfasts are served in equally stylish surroundings.

Bedrooms are simply stunning and totally contemporary, each with an individual style from a professional interior designer. All have luxurious goose-down duvets and fine cotton sheets, iPod docking stations, large screen TVs, DVD players (with free access to a large collection) and free Wi-Fi access.

The fully tiled en suite bathrooms have designer fittings by Villeroy Boch, heated floors, mood lighting, dual-fuel towel rails, spacious shower enclosures and bathrobes. Those with air spa baths have a mirrored TV at the end of the bath for utter indulgence.

As a bonus, guests have free use of nearby leisure facilities, including a swimming pool, sauna, gym and squash courts.

The Cranleigh has 14 car parking spaces, is totally non-smoking and is unsuitable for children.

Awarded 'Highly Commended' status by the AA in 2009, placing The Cranleigh within the top 10% of UK 5-star guest houses.