Some of the area's finest dining spots are located right next to the lake shore, presenting gorgeous views to enjoy as you savour your gourmet lunches or dinners. You can stay in the town itself and head down to the waterside, home to stately hotel brasseries, where British and European dishes are prepared from Lakeland ingredients in stunning surroundings. Or head down to Bowness, where lakeside vistas can be accompanied by al fresco Italian meals, as or high-class pub grub.

Whether you've been scaling Skiddaw, exploring gorgeous Grasmere, canoeing around Coniston Water, or wandering the western shore, return to Windermere's restaurants for a restorative gourmet meal. Hiking in the Lake District can be hard work, so why not combine your exertions with a superb meal at the end of the trail? From homemade 6oz hamburgers to fish and chips poached in squid ink, there's no shortage of rewards for a day spent witnessing the area's astonishing natural beauty. So before you head out, place a booking with Quandoo.

One of the reasons for the Lake District's gastronomic rise has been the influx of talented British chefs to the area. This means that, even though there's no major city for miles around, Windermere's restaurants rank among the best places in the world to enjoy the new wave of British cuisine. Enjoy peppered sirloin steaks sourced from local artisan butchers, game caught by hunters from the region, or lamb that has been raised on the Cumbrian fells, then served with Jerusalem artichokes and cumin. Local chefs are constantly finding new ways to use the region's meat, making Windermere's restaurants gastronomic heaven for fans of traditional British fare.

However, don't assume that everything revolves around steak and kidney pie and lamb roasts in this pocket of the Lakes. The focus might be on British cuisine, but there are also some superb international restaurants in Windermere which conjure up flavours from all across the world. If you want a Bengali taster menu, that's no problem. If you want pizzas covered in prosciutto and taleggio, that can be arranged. The Lake District is evolving to be an all-round gourmet hotspot, so there's a galaxy of menu options for diners to pick from.