Hopping over the babbling beck to reach the hidden gardens of this cute-as-a-button period cottage, you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd fallen head first into the pages of a Beatrix Potter classic. And that's all part of the charms of this riverside home, set just a few minutes walk from the pretty centre of Windermere village and a smidge further to bustling Bowness and Lake Windermere (a twenty-minute stroll).

Inside, the cottage has been carefully and stylishly reimagined for elegant, modern living while retaining that all-important historic character. Spread out over three floors, it's deceptively spacious, too, despite its chocolate-box exterior. Upstairs, you'll find four bedrooms, each as beautiful as the next, with exposed beams, sloping roofs, and decorative fireplaces just like you imagined. While downstairs, you can spill out into the immaculate open-plan living and dining area with storybook armchairs crying out for an afternoon dose.

But when the sun shines, it's outside in that glorious hidden garden where you'll want to be. Hop over the itsy-bitsy humpback bridge (game of poohsticks, anyone?) to soak up the sun from the sloping lawns or gather round for drinks on the riverside decking – it's your very own little oasis in the heart of Windemere.

Home truths:
*There is on street parking readily available directly outside the home
*This home is set out across three floors with internal stairs which may be unsuitable for guests with restricted mobility
*There’s a handy entrance porch with room to store those muddy boots and coats
*The second floor bedrooms have sloping ceilings – vertically blessed may need to mind their heads
*The third and fourth bedrooms have single beds
*The garden has direct access to the river and children must not be left unsupervised at any time outside
*The cushions and blankets for the outside seating are kept in a storage box – please make sure they are put away at night or if it starts to rain