Ghyll Bank Barn

Ghyll Bank Barn sits at the top of a hill just outside Staveley, at the mouth of the Kentmere valley, and it is the kind of place dogs remember: a big entrance hall built for boots and wet coats, underfloor heating to flop out on, and a large field attached to the barn for guests to use. Walks start at the door and the fells are immediately there rather than a drive away.

One well behaved dog is welcome as standard and there is no pet charge. Guests have been given permission for a second dog by asking the owner in advance, so send a message rather than assume if you travel with a pair. The owner lives locally and tends to call round early in a stay to check everything is working, which owners consistently appreciate.

Two things about the setting need saying plainly. The barn is one of three properties in the same building, so there may well be dogs on both sides; guests with a young or vocal dog have found that more stressful than they expected. And the attached field is shared, and open to the surrounding sheep country rather than being an enclosed garden, so a long lead is sensible kit and recall needs to be reliable. Sheep come close enough to see and hear from the patio.

Inside, the barn is generous for a family of four, with a big lounge looking out over open countryside, a proper dining table and a warm bathroom. The kitchen is a good size but light on some basics, and the supplied vacuum cleaner struggles with dog hair, so a lint roller earns its place in the bag. Wifi reaches the ground floor only and mobile signal is patchy. The access track is narrow, steep and single-track with few passing places, which keeps the place quiet but is not a relaxing drive.

With a 4.5/5 paw rating, Ghyll Bank Barn is best for one steady, sheep-proof dog and owners who want fell views, underfloor heating and a half-hour walk down into Staveley for the bakery and the brewery, with a stiff climb back up.