Cumbria

Cumbria takes in the Lake District National Park, the Solway coast, the Eden Valley, the western fells and the eastern reaches of Hadrian’s Wall – a wider range of landscapes than any other English county. The Lake District draws the most visitors and gets deservedly busy in summer, but the county extends well beyond the national park boundary into equally impressive country.

The northern fells around Caldbeck, Skiddaw and Blencathra see far fewer people than the southern Lakes, and the roads through the Caldbeck Fells have a genuinely remote quality. The Eden Valley to the east of the Lakes is pastoral and underrated, with red sandstone villages, the Pennines rising to the east and several good overnight spots in the market towns.

Hadrian’s Wall runs along the southern edge of Northumberland but enters Cumbria at its western end near Brampton, and the section around Birdoswald Fort is one of the better-preserved stretches. The Solway coast to the north is tidal, wild and birdwatching-rich, with the marshes and saltings of the RSPB reserve at Campfield Marsh worth a stop.

Overnight options in the Lakes fill quickly in summer and require planning – booking ahead is essential at peak times. The Eden Valley and Solway coast have much more availability and often better value. For those who can travel outside July and August, the Lakes in spring and autumn are transformed – the roads are quieter, the light is often better, and the same views that attract crowds in summer are there to be enjoyed in relative peace.