“This is ridiculous!” Though I yelled the words over my shoulder at Matt, he stood no chance at hearing them: the wind had whipped them out of my mouth and away into the mountains before I’d even finished shouting. Turning to face forwards, my ears were once again filled with the sound of the wind and rain pummelling my raincoat hood. Just ahead, my dog Bilbo glanced over his shoulder at me, a less-than-impressed expression plastered to his soaked face.

I seem to have found the antidote to “post-expedition blues” in Another Place, The Lake. Situated on the shores of Ullswater in the north Lake District, this hotel offers the perfect combination of comfort and luxury, paired with the captivating rugged scenery of this far-flung corner of the country - exactly what I was in need of after almost half a year in a tent. If that wasn’t enough to distract me from the return to “normal life”, there are adventures a-plenty awaiting on the doorstep, meaning it would not be hard for me to fill my time…