Cottage No1 Four Bed Lakeland Retreat and Hot Tub

Cottage No1 sits at Skelwith Fold, in the wooded country between Ambleside and the Elterwater valley, and it is set up for the sort of Lake District week where the dog comes too. It is a four-bedroom house let whole, with its own garden and a hot tub, so there are no shared corridors to walk a nervous dog down and no neighbouring doors to pass on the way out for the first circuit of the morning. Guests rate it 9.8 out of 10 across 16 reviews, a strong score for a property of this size.

Pet charges, weight limits and breed rules are not published on the property's booking listing, so anyone bringing a big dog, or more than one, should settle the arrangement with the owners before booking. What dog owners do mention is that small welcome touches are laid out for the dog on arrival alongside the usual human ones, which reads as a property that plans for canine guests rather than merely permitting them.

Arrival is smooth. The check-in team come in for repeated praise and the house is consistently described as spotless on the day, with the garden and the valley views the parts people linger over. The hot tub earns its keep after a long day on the fells.

Walking starts at the door. Elterwater is a comfortable walk away, Loughrigg Tarn is close enough for a pre-breakfast loop, and Ambleside is a short drive or a longer leg-stretch for supplies and a pub.

One caveat is worth planning for, and it belongs to the setting rather than the housekeeping: the garden runs into mature woodland and bracken, and ticks have turned up on a dog after time outside. That is normal for this part of the Lakes from spring through to early autumn. Pack a tick remover and check the coat before bed.

Best suited to a family or group bringing one or more dogs who want space, a private garden and walks from the doorstep, and who are happy to do a tick check after a good sniff around. Cottage No1 earns a 4.6 out of 5 paw rating.