One of our all-time favourite get away from it all hotels, is the Best Western plus Castle Inn Hotel. Although it states that it is in Keswick/Cumbria, I wouldn’t like to walk it into the town centre lol.

The remoteness of this hotel, is the very thing which makes it special for Ann and I. The hotel is situated on the top end of Bassenthwaite Lake, with super views, a gym (not that this interests me much lol), a pool, which Ann & I use before dinner on the nights we stay, great seating areas with panoramic views, a fantastic bar and restaurant, it also does the the best brekkie in the Lakes…

A good morning walk is to visit, the ancient church of St. Bega’s, down on Bassenthwaite Lake. (park on the road at the top, and stroll the single track to the church).

Because, I’m the Historian at Everton Cemetery here in Liverpool, I always find myself disappearing into the graveyards, to find a few worthy headstones of note… St. Bega’s never disappoints on my last visit I came across a local family, whose sons, travelled (and died) in far flung corners of the world… Here’s just one… George Slater, who died in California (1893), take a look at the in-scripted headstones…