If you are looking for a break that will really allow you to enjoy the best Britain has to offer, booking Lake District holiday homes should be close to the top of your list.

Staying in this part of Cumbria will place you in the middle of some of the country’s most dramatic countryside, with beautiful expanses of water and rugged hills everywhere you look. But the great outdoors is not the Lake District’s only attraction, as the area produces some of the UK’s finest food and drink.

You may be used to doing your shopping at the supermarket when you are at home, but you will find some better places to pick up your food while staying in self catering holiday homes in Cumbria. The region has some great farmers’ markets selling the best local produce and, if you don’t want to cook, you will also discover some fantastic traditional pubs where you can enjoy a bite to eat and a pint or two.

Local farmers produce a range of different meats – such as the world-famous Herdwick lamb – cheeses and vegetables. The area also has some excellent fish, including Morecambe Bay shrimps, and small producers serve up a tasty range of puddings, bakery items and preserves.

You will be able to pick some of them up from the many farm shops dotted around the area or the food hall at Holker Hall & Gardens. But for the best selection and an interesting morning out, head to one of the farmers’ markets. Kendal (last Friday of the month), Ulverston (third Saturday of the month) and Keswick (second Thursday of the month) are the best known markets, but keep an eye out for some smaller local events close to your accommodation.

The Lake District also has some great beers. In addition to the famous Jennings, there are a number of smaller breweries in the area and many of the pubs have a wide selection of ales and menus that make the best of the local produce.

Wherever you choose to book your Lake District holiday home, you can be sure there will be a good pub nearby. If you are staying in Eskdale it is well worth checking out The Woolpack Inn at Boot, while no break in Kirkby Lonsdale is complete without spending a night or two in The Orange Tree.

Depending on where your accommodation is, you may also want to try the authentic pub experience at The Troutbeck Inn in the hamlet of Troutbeck, The Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge, Lupton’s The Plough, The Miners Arms in Nenthead, or The Watermill Inn and microbrewery at Ings.