Harbour Lights

Muncaster Castle overlooks the River Esk, about a mile from Ravenglass. It is a Grade I listed building, still home to the Pennington family, with a 14th-century pele tower and a Great Hall among its oldest parts. Inside you can see "The Luck of Muncaster", a Venetian glass bowl said to have been given to the family by Henry VI.

Tip: Combine it with a ride on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway using the joint ticket, booked online through the railway's website.

Lakes Aquarium sits in the village of Lakeside on the southern shore of Windermere. It opened in 1997 and is now themed around the lakes of the world, with both freshwater and salt water animals. Displays cover the Lake District, Asia, Africa, the Americas, marine life and Morecambe Bay.

Tip: The Windermere Lake Cruises dock and the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway are both here, so you can arrive by boat or steam train.

The Ruskin Museum sits in the heart of Coniston village and tells the story of the area, from Stone Age axe-makers to the speed record era of the 1950s and 60s. It was founded in 1901 as a memorial to John Ruskin, and his collection is still housed here.

Tip: The museum marks the start of the Coniston Coppermines Trail, so you can pair a visit with a walk.

Brantwood is a Grade II* listed house on the eastern shore of Coniston Water, once the home of the Victorian writer, artist and social reformer John Ruskin. Today it is a museum about his life and work. You can see rooms including his study, the drawing room and the turret bedroom, along with displays of his drawings and his mineral collection.

Tip: The gardens and woodland are steep in places, so wear footwear suited to a countryside walk. The lower gardens are suitable for all.

Hill Top is the 17th-century Lakeland farmhouse in Near Sawrey that Beatrix Potter bought in 1905 as her artistic retreat, and later left to the National Trust. Inside, it is shown as she would have known it.

Tip: Book your ticket in advance if arriving by car, as the small car park is for pre-booked visitors only. Afternoons after 2.30 tend to be quieter.

Wray Castle is a Victorian neo-gothic building on the west shore of Windermere, looked after by the National Trust. The parkland has waymarked trails that start at the front of the castle, and the lakeshore has a shingle beach with easy access to the water.

Tip: You can arrive without a car: the Windermere Lake Cruises Green Cruise calls at Wray jetty from Ambleside, and it is a short walk up to the castle and café.

This family-run heritage railway is a former Furness Railway branch line, about 3 miles long. Steam engines haul traditional 1950s carriages through the countryside of the Leven Valley, from Haverthwaite via Newby Bridge to Lakeside, at the southern end of Windermere.

Tip: The railway runs as a seasonal steam operation, so check the timetable on the railway's website before you set off.

Dove Cottage is the whitewashed Lakeland house on the edge of Grasmere where William Wordsworth lived with his sister Dorothy. It is a Grade I listed building that remains largely unchanged from Wordsworth's day. Visits begin with an introductory tour led by a member of the team, taking you through rooms with slate floors and oak panelling.

Tip: Entry to the cottage is at timed slots, so book ahead online to secure your tour.