IF you threw a stone from the M6 you’d hit the gates of South Lakeland Leisure Village.

That may not sound like a brochure selling point, but it’s easy accessibility tops my list of the resort’s best qualities.

You can finish work and arrive at your weekend retreat in plenty of time to sit down to your evening meal without having to break the land speed record.

And in my book, after a hectic week, that is pretty priceless asset.

Yet the site, situated on the Lancashire/Cumbria border is set back far enough from the main roads to feel like the country retreat you have always dreamed of.

And the lodges, most of which are set around a lake, are a real home from home.

Fitted out with all the mod cons you can put your feet up in luxurious comfort and forget that civilisation is just around the corner.

The spa complex on site, with large swimming pool, a basic gym and sauna, whilst not large in size, boasts a vast selection of beauty treatments.

The Prescription Glycolic facial and Bare Minerals make-up session (45-60 mins) I can personally recommend - it’s a favourite across the pond, so I am told.

I definitely had less lines around my eyes straight away afterwards and my skin was positively glowing like Hollywood’s finest. And I challenge you not to fall asleep during the facial part.

Next to the leisure facilities stands the old farmhouse that has been converted into the Water’s Edge restaurant.

Inside there is a cosy bar with exposed stoned walls, and a reserved dining area featuring mediterranean cuisine.

It’s very much a fine dining experience at The Water’s Edge, offering so much more than your usual leisure campus eateries.

The A La Carte menu boasts dishes such as Morecambe Bay shrimps and homemade pate to start and anything from Goonsnagh duck, calves liver and sea bass fillets to pizza and pasta for main course.

Steak lovers are treated to a large ‘from the grill’ section containing fillets, sirloins and ribeye options.

It is clear the restaurant has built up a reputation in its own right, with diners, including non residents, keeping the bustling atmosphere alive well until last orders.

The setting is in an area of outstanding natural beauty a few miles from Arnside and Silverdale and The village of Warton famed for its connections with George Washington.

It’s an ideal base for exploring the entire region, and visitors won’t be stuck for ideas with an extensive array of brochures, maps and leaflets on display at reception.

Conservation is very much on the agenda at South Lakeland Leisure Village.

The site, along with the nearby five star caravan parks Fell End and Hall More, has been awarded the David Bellamy Gold Award for its efforts to encourage and care for wildlife.

Kingfishers, and even otters and bitterns are all spotted on the lake shore and there are lodges to buy or rent which feature a host of energy saving devices that help cut carbon emissions and energy bills, meaning visitors can not only chill out in luxury but do so with a clear conscience too.

When you’re fully de-stressed, take the scenic route home using the country roads that border Yorkshire, via the popular Ingleton Falls, for the perfect way to conclude a weekend away from reality.

• South Lakeland Leisure Village, Dock Acres, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA6 1BH. Short breaks (three nights) ranging from £150 low season to £495 high season.