Fountain Cottage, Keswick

Fountain Cottage is a three-storey, three-bedroom cottage a couple of minutes from the middle of Keswick, close to the River Greta - and it officially welcomes two well-behaved dogs. Its paw rating of 3.8 comes from a small pool of dog-stay feedback so far, and the shape of that feedback matters more than the number: the cottage itself wins praise, while the dog logistics need planning.

Plan around one structural fact: there is no garden. The outdoor space amounts to a small shrubbery at the front and a shared courtyard at the rear that the neighbouring homes use for parking and bins - it is not dog territory, and one visiting owner found a neighbour sharply protective of it when their leaded dogs paused there. Treat every toilet trip as a short street walk from the front door, and keep courtyard time to loading the car. The compensation is real: Fitz Park's riverside grass is a two-minute stroll, and few cottages put the town, the park and the River Greta closer.

Inside, the cottage runs across three floors with steep stairs to the attic rooms - fine for agile dogs, worth noting for seniors - and guests describe a comfortable home-from-home with everything provided. Be aware the housekeeping record on dog traces is mixed: some guests have arrived to dog hair and smell from previous stays, so if your household is allergy-sensitive despite travelling with a dog, ask about the cleaning schedule. A £250 good-housekeeping bond applies - hoover accordingly before checkout.

The location is Keswick at its most convenient: Fitz Park, the lake, Latrigg and the market square all on foot, with the town's dog-tolerant cafes and gear shops two minutes away.

Best suited to owners of one or two street-savvy, stair-capable dogs who want everything on foot and will happily trade a garden for Fitz Park at the end of the road.