Britain's Lake District is known for its natural beauty but the area's independent craft industry is also proving to be a tourist draw.
The farm shop at Low Sizergh Barn (Low Sizergh Farm, Sizergh, Kendal, tel: 44 15395 60426;
www.lowsizerghbarn.co .uk) has attracted visitors for years but now an onsite craft gallery is winning fans, too. The 18th century stone barn retains its shippons but instead of animals, they now house local art, such as the bold red and gold pottery (from GBP60/HK$700 to GBP235) of Nigel Edmondson. Libby Edmondson's bronze hare (GBP355) is less functional but makes for a dramatic centrepiece.
For more locally produced work there's Colony (Lindal-in-Furness, Ulverston, tel: 44 1229 461111; www. colony.com), where you can see (and smell) distinctive candles being made. Colony also produces eye-catching ceramics.
Parma Violet (52 Main Street, Kirkby Lonsdale, tel: 44 15242 72585;
www.parmaviolet.co.uk) was once a sweet shop and, like the Le Creuset ceramic heart-shaped casserole dish (GBP28.50) it stocks, the store is rather twee. Its range of traditional telephones (GBP63) works with modern phone networks.
If you want something more substantial, go a few doors down the street to No 58 and China Bull (tel: 44 1524 271265), which is as robust as its name suggests. Its La Cafeteria range of kettles (left; GBP35 each) in gleaming red, black or white will give your kitchen polish while the shop's coffee pots (right; GBP25 each) are candy cute.
Also on Kirkby Lonsdale's Main Street is La Maison (No 51; tel: 44 1539 739392), a good place to consider when shopping for furniture. Although the shop is small, it stocks chunky furniture, much of it sourced from reclaimed oak. The nest of three coffee tables (GBP189) and night table (GBP199) have a rustic quality and dark palette of old timber.
When in the Lake District, it's worth keeping an eye out for architecture made with local materials. Once a Victorian home, the Linthwaite House Hotel (Crook Road, Windermere, tel: 44 15394 88600;
www.linthwaite.com) owes its existence to crisp Applethwaite stone from a nearby quarry. Standing among the Lakeland fells, it's an example of how important creativity is in this beautiful part of Britain.
