Why go now?

To celebrate Beatrix Potter’s 150th birthday, the National Trust is holding its first Children’s Book festival at Wray Castle on Windermere (4-6 March). Children’s authors will host events and activities including Squirrel Nutkin raft-building.

The festival kicks off months of anniversary fun, from a Peter Rabbit musical at the World of Beatrix Potter to a special exhibition at the Beatrix Potter Gallery. Tour operator Mountain Goat is running trips to the writer’s favourite beauty spots and her 17th-century farmhouse, Hill Top, plus a lake cruise (daily, £34).

What else is there to do?

Fly over the water and hills in an open-cockpit gyrocopter: Lake District Gyroplanes offers trial flights for beginners (£125 for 30 minutes).

Anywhere good to eat?

There are impressive new head chefs at two Michelin-starred restaurants in Windermere. Nick Edgar at the Samling was previously at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, and Darren Cornish at Holbeck Ghyll was a finalist on Masterchef: The Professionals.

Further afield, the chef at the new Forest Side hotel in Grasmere was formerly head forager at two-star L’Enclume in Cartmel. His intriguing menu includes duck giblets with hazelnut whey, and a salad with herb scurvy-grass.

How about a drink?

A new champagne bar, the Fizzy Tarté, is opening in Bowness-on-Windermere in March. Customers who register their details online will receive two free glasses of champagne. Also in Bowness, the Hole i’the Wall (aka the New Hall Inn) is an atmospheric pub built in 1612, while the Watermill Inn in Ings, two miles east of Windermere, has its own microbrewery.

Anywhere to stay for under £100?

The recently refurbished Belsfield hotel in Bowness has lake views, and up to 20% off until 31 March (doubles from £95 including the discount, lauraashleyhotels.com). The grounds of Rydal Hall, north of Windermere, is the new location for Herdy Huts: five cute shepherd’s huts (from £55, sleep three, herdyhuts.co.uk).