Balmoral Apartment, Keswick

Balmoral Apartment has one of the best locations in Keswick - right by the shops, bars and a short walk from the park and the edge of Derwentwater - with genuinely spectacular mountain and lake views from its elevated position. Dog owners consistently love the setting. But there's one thing that comes up in review after review, and if you're travelling with a dog you need to know it before you book: getting to the apartment means climbing a lot of external stairs.

This isn't a few steps - guests count somewhere around 60 of them, up several flights of an outdoor staircase to the top floor, with no lift. For an able dog and owner it's manageable, and the views are the reward, but it's a real consideration for an older, larger or less mobile dog, for puppies, and for anyone who'd struggle with the climb themselves - especially in the rain or snow, or for those early-morning toilet trips. One guest with a fear of heights couldn't face the staircase at all and had to leave. Several others said they'd have thought twice had they realised in advance.

Beyond the stairs, expectations are best kept realistic on the apartment itself. It's clean and warm with allocated parking, and some guests have found it perfectly comfortable and good value - but a recurring theme is that the facilities are fairly basic and a little dated, with mentions of uncomfortable or broken furniture and the odd maintenance niggle. It's a place you book for the location and the views rather than for a luxurious interior.

So the honest picture: a brilliantly located, dog-friendly apartment with knockout views, let down for some dog owners by a demanding external staircase and basic facilities. Best suited to active owners with a fit, surefooted dog who'll happily trade the climb for being right in the heart of Keswick with the fells on view - and not the right choice for an older dog, a puppy, or anyone who needs step-free access.