THE beauty and majesty of the Lake District has inspired some of the nation’s greatest writers.

William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Thomas de Quincey have all basked in the glories of its rugged fells, mysterious tarns and dry stone walls which snake endlessly across the brooding Cumbrian landscape.

But this is where my own particular poetic musings will come to an abrupt halt. Thank heavens I didn’t get started on the daffodils.

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to The Castle Green Hotel in Kendal for a weekend of local food, Lakeland tours, relaxation and wine tasting. Not bad work if you can get it, especially if you have a new Italian bloke in tow.

So Fabio and I checked in to the three-star Best Western hotel after a surprisingly stress-free two-and-a-half drive from York. Overlooking Kendal, to the west of the country’s biggest national park, the 100 bedroom hotel (which is currently undergoing a £1million renovation in a bid for four-star status) makes a handy and impressive base for those wanting to explore the surrounding area.

Even from a first glance it’s easy to see why the Lake District is such a popular tourist destination. Ramblers enjoy the much-documented scenic mountain walks made famous by the Lake’s favourite son Alfred Wainwright. For the hardcore element, fell running is the sport (or punishment) of choice. Running up and down peaks at break-neck speed, these athletes dash across the landscape with gazelle-like ease while the native Herdwick sheep graze sedately.

Rich in heritage (the area has its own dialect and traditional wrestling), even the less energetic and mobile can find plenty to do on a weekend break or fortnight’s camping holiday. In fact the area’s Beatrix Potter connection draws thousands of Japanese tourists a year who all curiously read the Peter Rabbit books when they first start elementary school.

But despite the plethora of outdoor pursuits on offer in the Lake District, my Mediterranean friend and I decided to plump for the more leisurely option on offer, or so we thought. That was before we enlisted on the Mountain Goat minibus tour. In seven hours we covered 100 miles, took part in the dramatic rescue of a stray cat and saw some of the most breathtaking countryside in England. The value-for-money and informative tour guide (who should have either had his own television show, animal hospital or military boot camp) showed us some of the best views, historical monuments and sights on offer. By the time we returned to the hotel I felt fully informed about the history, myths and beer prices of the area but headed thankfully for the sanctuary of my room.

Next was the sampling of the local food. The hotel’s general manager, Tim Rumney (who, like the tour guide had missed his way and should have been a stand-up comedian) had organised a five-course dinner for us all, using ingredients sourced from within a 55-mile radius of the AA rosette Greenhouse restaurant. Smoked trout with poached egg, potato soup with pancetta, Cumbrian lamb with organic vegetables finished with a baked custard and a cheese board made a delicious supper with limited food miles, for those of us who worry about our carbon footprint.

Following a pleasant evening it was time to relax and the next day we booked ourselves in for a treatment at the hotel’s Green Rooms. For those who can’t get enough exercise there is a modern gym and swimming pool but after the previous day’s tour the treadmill was forsaken for a full body aromatherapy massage. Not usually one to indulge in such “pamper packages” after a half-hour rub-down I felt re-energised and ready to face the world.

Only a short drive (or train journey) from Ryedale, the Lake District is a perfect choice for those who want to explore one of the most beautiful parts of the country (aside from our own North York Moors, of course). Well if it’s good enough for some of the greatest poets of our time (Wordsworth should have visited Farndale then he would have had something to write about), it’s good enough for the rest of us.

*Lynn and Fabio stayed at The Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, 01539 734000, www.castlegreen.co.uk