Tallentire Hall, Cockermouth

Tallentire Hall is a historic country house near Cockermouth on the north-western edge of the Lake District, let as self-catering accommodation, and it is one of the more thoroughly dog-equipped places in Cumbria. The detail that gives it away is the dedicated dog wash room, stocked with shampoo and towels, which turns a muddy fell day from a problem into a five-minute job before anyone sets foot on the good carpets.

The welcome goes further than most. Dogs arriving here are met with home-made treats and blankets to use during the stay, and the enclosed private garden gives a couple of dogs room to burn off a long car journey before you have unpacked. There is a firepit outside for the evening. The owners live close by, and guests consistently describe them as generous with the run of the place rather than protective of it.

Inside, the standard is high: kitchens fitted out to the point that guests stop bringing their own equipment, comfortable bedrooms, quality furnishings, and WiFi good enough to work from for a day or two. Human arrivals get a welcome pack of their own.

The trade-off is the setting. Tallentire is a small village with little in it, so you will drive for most things, though Cockermouth is only a few minutes away for supermarkets, independent shops and restaurants, and the western Lakes and the Solway coast are both easy from here. Dogs are taken by prior agreement rather than under an open policy, so tell the owners how many you are bringing when you book, and note that they should not be left alone in the cottage at any time. For dog owners who want the walking of the Lakes and somewhere that has genuinely thought about the muddy end of it, Tallentire Hall earns a 4.8/5 paw rating.