Your own wing of a Lake District Pele Tower

Stately and very private B&B accommodation for a couple or a family is offered in Johnby Hall, a classic country pile in a quiet bit of the Lake District, offering great comforts and fair bit of grandeur in a rural setting.

Accommodation is on the first floor of a private 17th-century wing known, since time immemorial, as Kelly Cottage. Access is through your own garden entrance into a charming self-contained suite, with antique furniture and prints – the sense of history is everywhere. There’s a spacious bedroom, with a king-sized bed and two single beds, all with comfy memory foam mattresses, so although the suite is ideal for double or twin occupancy it can also easily accommodate a family of four: the cosy sitting room, closed off by a door,  means you’re not left creeping around after the children have gone to sleep. Along with a super-comfotable sofa this has drink-making facilities and a small fridge, with distraction offered by a television and selection of books and games, though wifi is, of course, available throughout. The private bathroom is traditional, with a bath with shower-head attachment – sorry, no free-standing shower. Kelly Cottage also has the use of an enclosed garden – great for keeping an eye on dogs and small children.

Breakfasts are served in the Great Hall, featuring sausages and bacon from the hall’s own free-range Oxford Sandy & Black pigs, eggs from the hens and jams from the orchard. Evening meals are no longer available here – though there are several very local alternatives – but cold platters can be provided for supper if booked in advance (£15).

Through the day there’s plenty to see and do without ever leaving the property. The garden’s history goes back centuries, with a walled orchard and woodland walk, a tranquil location and views over the Pennines. Look out for interesting birds and even the occasional red squirrel.

Best of all, everyone is welcome: children and pets love the range of garden toys and woods in which to roam.

Johnby Hall suggests

There’s further accommodation in two self-contained properties in Johnby Hall’s grounds. The Garden Barn is ideal for couples or for families with up to three children with a large double bedroom and a room with two bunks, to which cots or trundle beds can be added, and a large sitting room/kitchen. The Studio is part of a 17th century cottage adjacent to the main house, with an open plan bedroom above a sitting room and newly-fitted kitchen. Both have large sitting rooms and good cooking facilities and are generally available for three-night-minimum stays. Guests can get a taste of the B&B experience by booking breakfasts in the Great Hall for £10 each (£5 for young children).