How Head Cottage is a good Lakeland B&B located across the lake from Coniston Water and occupies a superb location from which to view the rugged russet Old Man of Coniston, the gnarled, rugged russet mountain overlooking the town of Coniston.

At £25 per person per night, the annex was very good value. Totally self-contained, it comprised a double room with an adjacent single room, which led to a small but functional en suite. The room has lots of wardrobe space, washbasin and a TV; but reception, typical for the Lake District, is poor. But we weren't here to watch TV. For those that do, there is a residents' lounge, from where breakfast is taken, and the lounge is an excellent touch. The bookcase there holds a wide array of coffee-table Lakeland books (a full set of WA Poucher but only one Wainwright) which show lots of lovely pictures in stunning colour that may or may not match the grey damp reality outside the window at the time! Minor gripe: the decor is rather... more