The Lodge, Spark Bridge

The Lodge is a single-level, open-plan cottage at Spark Bridge, on the quieter southern edge of the Lake District near Ulverston. Walks start at the door, the hot tub is a genuine reward after a long day on the fells, and the position puts Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere and the dog-friendly sands at Roanhead all within easy reach. The White Hart is about ten minutes' walk away and serves a well-regarded Sunday lunch at both sittings. For a walking holiday with a dog, the location is hard to beat.

The outdoor space is the honest weak point, and guests who travel with dogs raise it consistently. There is a small patio and a courtyard by the hot tub, but no proper enclosed garden, and more than one party has drawn a distinction between a cottage that allows dogs and one that is genuinely set up for them. What space there is has been described as safe but impractical for a quick toilet trip first thing or in the middle of the night, so plan on a lead and a torch. The back door to the courtyard opens off the bedroom, which is a quirk of the layout worth knowing before you book.

Cleanliness is the other recurring theme. There is a house rule keeping dogs off the furniture, and not every guest observes it, so a steady handful of arrivals have found dog hair, a doggy smell in the soft furnishings, or a rug that needed moving out of the way. It is not universal and it does not appear to be the owners' doing, but it is frequent enough to expect. In tick season, the surrounding grassy fields are worth a careful check over your dog each evening.

One further thing: the lane past the cottage leads up to a caravan park, so there is more passing traffic than the tucked-away setting suggests and it runs close to the windows. Most guests get used to it within a day. With a 4.4/5 paw rating from 13 dog-owning guests, The Lodge works best for one or two walkers with a well-behaved dog who will be out on the hills all day and want a hot tub and a pub to come back to.