THE idea going on holiday somewhere that is a short drive down the motorway may not always seem as appealing as heading to the airport and jetting off to sunnier climes.

However, England is home to some of the most beautiful destinations to have a break, and nowhere in the country is a better example of that than the Lake District.

Just a few hour’s drive from Bradford is an area where you can totally detach from the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse yourself in outstanding natural beauty, history and culture, without the need to pack a passport.

We took a trip to Windermere on an unseasonably pleasant September weekend, and stayed in the Beech Hill Hotel - which overlooks the lake.

Driving to the hotel we were impressed by the natural beauty as well as the grand homes and hotels. And we were particularly happy when one of these buildings turned out to be our hotel.

The Beech Hill has an almost unmatched view of the lake, and out room had balcony that looked out over that near perfect view.

After settling in the room we headed down to the lakeside to make the most of another business based on the site - Wake Nation, which offers watersports on Windermere.

Not being used to watersports we opted to pass on wakeboarding this time and go for the less extreme and more gentle option of paddleboarding.

After donning our wetsuits and lifejackets we hit the lake, which was nowhere near as cold as I thought it might be.

Although, as first timers, we didn’t manage to stand up on the board as much as I’d like, we did manage to keep out of the water for most of our session.

Paddling on Lake Windermere on a sunny day is a truly exhilarating feeling. I’m not sure what I enjoyed most, the stillness of the lake when it was quiet, or the occasions when steamers sailed past, with passengers waving at us.

After spending time on the lake we returned to our room and made the most of the amazing view by enjoying a coffee on the balcony and watching the boats pass by.

After relaxing in our room we headed down to the hotel’s spa area.

The facilities include an indoor pool, steam room and sauna, as well as an outdoor hot tub and treatment rooms.

Although we didn’t go for any of the multiple treatments on offer, we made plenty of use of the pool before relaxing in the steam room and sauna.

After all that relaxing we were just about ready for food.

The hotel is also home to Burlington’s Restaurant, and on site eatery that has held AA rosettes for the last 20 years. As well as being a must for anyone staying at the hotel, the restaurant is hugely popular in the area for non guests.

We opted to go all in, and went for the five course meal. We started with drinks in the hotel bar, and even before we began the meal we were offered an incredible selection of canapes.

For starters I had an incredible dish featuring fish and rhubarb. This was followed by a sorbet that my partner said was the best she’d ever had.

For the main I had a perfectly cooked duck served on a sweet potato mash, vegetables and pistachios.

Desert was a chocolate fondant that was incredibly rich, just the way I like it, with clotted cream.

And we ended with coffee and truffles.

Although I was happy with my choices, it was nearly impossible to choose from the menu that had so many highlights. I will have to return to the hotel to try the other dishes on offer.

The next morning we spent more time in the spa, before heading for a buffet breakfast - the highlights of which included a wonderful black pudding.

After our time in the hotel came to an end we ventured into nearby Bowness-On-Windermere. The picturesque town was busy with tourists making the most of the final days of the Summer, and it was really apparent how popular the destination is as an international as well as a national destination.

I was expecting a lot of tourist shops, but was pleasantly surprised how the town has plenty of cafes and restaurants, as well as high street names.

There were plenty of activities in the town - from watersports to boat trips to simple sightseeing as the town has some incrediuble views. And it is also home to The World of Beatrix Potter. The Peter Rabbit author lived in nearby Hill Top Farm and the Bowness attraction is dedicated to her colourful characters.

And Hill Top Farm itself is now a National Trust run attraction.

We were just in the Lakes for a weekend, but we just scratched the surface of what the area has to offer. If you are looking to stay in England for a holiday rather than travel abroad then I can’t think of a better place to recommend.

For more information on the Beech Hill Hotel, visit https://beechhillhotel.co.uk/