A COUPLE who left behind medical careers to start afresh and run a guest house hundreds of miles away have seen it ranked nationally among the top B&Bs.

Steve and Hayley Curme who bought Windermere's grade II listed Alice Howe Guest House three years ago, have won a place in the editor's top 20 list in the Consumer Association's Which? Good Bed and Breakfast Guide 2002.

Recognition for the relaxing retreat on The Terrace, which dates back to 1847, follows the award of four AA diamonds in its first year of business.

The couple, who had no previous experience in the hospitality trade, admitted their surprise and delight at the news.

Before uprooting to the Lake District in 1999, the couple had never stayed in a B&B let alone won awards.

Mr Curme was the head of pathology at Windsor's Princess Margaret Hospital where his wife was a nurse.

They were successful in their professional lives, but they say they were constantly busy with little time to relax and enjoy each other's company.

"For nine weeks we worked in the same building when we didn't have a day off together.

That's when you look at your life and think what's it all about," said Mrs Curme.

She said the life-changing decision to move was initially 'quite scary', but said: "Quality of life is more important.

We didn't have a family or any ties, so we did it there and then."

She added: "We enjoyed life down there, but when we came up here it felt like home.

It was never an option of living anywhere else.

We just took the bull by the horns and went for it.

"You get one shot at life," she added.

Mr Curme, whose family lives in the Lake District, said: "We have no regrets at all.

We thoroughly enjoy this although it hasn't been an easy option."

During their first year in Windermere, the couple gutted and renovated the property to their taste, before opening the doors to guests in 2000.

They run the business without outside help and live on the top floor with their baby son Robert.

Alice Howe, which has a private drive off the main road, is fresh in appearance, modern and comfortable while retaining many original features.

It has five tastefully decorated, en-suite letting rooms, including a number of four poster beds, a lounge in which to relax and a diverse choice of breakfasts.

These range from a full English to a healthy low cholesterol option, vegetarian to continental, while evening meals are available on request, along with packed lunches.