Cumbria

Lake District Summer Music Festival - August

Best British Days Out (The Times, June 2007)

WILD SWIM @ Angle Tarn
By the time you've climbed from Patterdale village to Angle Tarn, you'll be sunkissed and sweaty enough to take the plunge in the most beautiful mountaintop lake in Cumbria - and possibly the coldest. Skinny-dip if you dare, then skip back down the mountain, with gorgeous views of Ullswater below. Two miles east of Patterdale; OS Explorer OL5

ALFRESCO BATH @ The Samling
With views over Windermere, the Samling is the best country-house hotel in the Lake District. A double room costs at least £200 ? and it's almost worth the money just to simmer in the outdoor hot tub after a yomp on the fells, and watch the setting sun dunk itself in the lake. From £200, B&B; 015394 31922, www.thesamling.com

LAKESIDE PICNIC @ Buttermere
Awesome views, safe paddling, homemade ice creams ? it's the perfect picnic. Park up at the Fish Hotel, in Buttermere, pootle down to the lake and feast on Fleetwith Pike views as you work through your hamper. That said, an easy three-hour circuit of the lake won't half help the sauvignon go down. Park at Gatesgarth Farm car park, at the eastern end of the lake, then head clockwise round the shore path, spreading your blanket in the woods beneath High Stile. Buy homemade ice creams from Sykes Farm (01768 770277).