Lane House B&B in Levens

Lane House B&B, located in the picturesque Lake District of Cumbria, turned out to be the only destination that completely baffled my GPS - affectionately referred to by the ladies in our group as Ms. Garmin. Even with the real-time assistance of the proprietor guiding us via phone, it still took us over an hour and several wrong turns before we finally reached the property.

Once we checked in and had a chance to settle down, we quickly discovered the source of the confusion: in this rural part of the countryside, none of the properties are assigned house numbers. Instead, each home is uniquely identified by a name. While charming in its own way, this system must pose a real challenge for mail carriers, who need to memorize house names rather than follow a numbered sequence!

Lane House itself is one of several homes perched along a long, narrow ridge, overlooking an expansive plain of grazing fields. From the small balcony of our room, we were treated to breathtaking views of the lush green landscape below. As evening approached, the soft twilight and the warm hues of the setting sun painted a mesmerizing scene across the horizon.

What impressed us just as much as the scenery was the dedication of John, the sole man running the B&B. In his 60s, John had only recently taken over the property in March of this year, and yet he manages everything single-handedly - from housekeeping and guest services to maintenance and meals. His quiet resilience and warm hospitality left a strong impression on us.

And clearly, John is not without a sense of style - evident from the sleek Mazda MX-5 sports car parked outside. A man of hard work and refined taste, indeed.

Stones fence is still being erected in the centuries-old way.