Dog Friendly Lake District Cottages
The Lake District is one of the most beautiful destinations in the UK. It's just an added bonus that it's one of the top dog-friendly holiday spots too. From sweeping views of Lake Windermere, rural forests and fells to cosy village boltholes, there are so many options for blissful getaways with your canine companion by your side. Explore our idyllic selection of pet-friendly cottages and dog-friendly homes to find the perfect holiday for you and your four-legged friend.
Bassenthwaite, England
5.00Prominently looking over the village green, and within touching distance of the Skiddaw massif, this link detached property is in the perfect location to explore the north western fells of the Lake District. Located in the heart of the village, with the village farm adjacent, the property offers access onto miles of quiet footpaths and local fells including little-known routes up Skiddaw and the back of the Blencathra massif. The beautiful beck, with its resident ducks, flows through the village and provides a great place for kids and dogs to cool off on warm days. The property is also only a few miles away from the historic market towns of Keswick and Cockermouth, which can both be easily accessed by bus, and offer a variety of shops, pubs and restaurants.
Lealholme provides spacious and comfortable, single-storey accommodation, and has the added benefit of level access and wide doors. Tastefully decorated throughout, and with an enclosed garden, with double wrought iron gates, which provides parking and makes the perfect sun trap to sit and relax, perhaps whilst enjoying a purchase from the Lakes Distillery just down the road! The well-equipped, contemporary kitchen has slate tiled floors, Denby crockery, quality cutlery and utensils and an alcove, complete with a large electric range cooker. This fully central heated home from home, offers a large comfortable living/dining room with original pitch pine panelling, stone mullioned and sash windows offers a cosy and welcoming environment, complete with a wood burner. Lealholme also boasts a large walk-in shower with a Softstone base and a double shower head.
The village is situated in the north of the Lake District National Park, and is also just a short drive to Carlisle and the Scottish borders - it couldn’t be easier to explore the area. Bassenthwaite is a real community village which hosts an annual duck race, frequent pub quizzes and a vibrant, active local church arranging village fates, sports days and even Morris dancing. This beautiful cottage is just over a mile away from Bassenthwaite Lake, where fishing and sailing are available, or for nature lovers a walk up to the osprey viewpoints is well worth the effort. The property is ideally located for cyclists, with rides including the C2C and Cumbria Way routes, along with off-road trails at nearby Whinlatter Forest. However you choose to spend your stay, this is a perfect location to make the most of the Lake District. There is a dog-friendly, village pub serving food, just a short walk away, whilst Armathwaite Hall hotel and spa, Ravenstone lodge and Castle Inn all provide alternatives within 2 miles. Beach 18 miles. Shop ½ mile (seasonal) or 7 miles (open all year), pub 200 yards, restaurant 1¾ miles.£70From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & book
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Cartmel, England 4.00Originally a traditional early 19th century Lakeland farm, Yew Tree Farm has been converted into a cosy, ground floor cottage, perfect for families and friends wanting to escape to the countryside. The cottage has a large gravelled yard area providing ample parking, as well as a place for children and dogs to play. Adjacent to the cottage is Yew Tree Barn, hosting many wonderful antiques and crafts, as well as Harry’s café, voted Cumbria’s café of the year for 2022.
The cottage is all open plan, offering a large living/dining/kitchen area with seating for six. The living area is well-furnished with an open fire and easy seating to relax and enjoy quality time together. The space also comprises a dining area with a table generously seating six, and a well-equipped kitchen complete with a range cooker. Past the kitchen along the hallway are two double bedrooms and a family bathroom. Further along the ‘L’ shaped building is a third bedroom with twin beds, a shower room and a large utility room – perfect for washing those mucky paws and leaving your boots and walking gear.
Bypassed from the A590, the tiny hamlet of Low Newton lies just inside the Lake District National Park. Its peaceful setting beneath the fells of South Lakeland provides the perfect base from which to explore the Lakes and the Cumbrian coast. Low Newton is also well served for good local places to eat and drink. Within walking distance at High Newton is Heft, a gastropub, opened in 2022, that has already earned national recognition, while a mile away is the friendly Royal Oak in Lindale. Three miles away is the village of Cartmel, the foodie capital of the South Lakes, famous for its sticky toffee pudding and the renowned Michelin three-starred restaurant L’Enclume. Also three miles away is Grange-over-Sands, a charming and genteel Victorian seaside town with a range of shops amply meeting the needs of any holidaymaker.
Nearest beach is 12 miles, shops 3 miles, restaurant and pub ½ mile.£89From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Meathop, EnglandJust 20 minutes from Windermere, these holiday properties are set in lovely countryside and ten acres of landscaped grounds, facing south, with wonderful long distance views to the sea, and to the hills beyond. This large country house is set on a wooded knoll and has been skilfully converted into six spacious holiday houses, which are owned by the Caravan Club Ltd and situated on the edge of one of their immaculately kept small touring caravan parks. The house consists of a two storey cottage wing (W42981), a first floor apartment (W42982), a ground floor garden apartment (W42983), two ground floor apartments (W42984 and W42986) and a first floor balcony apartment (W42985).
There’s a lot to see and do in the immediate area. Close by is beautiful Cartmel Priory and the stately homes at Holker Hall, Sizergh Castle and Levens Hall. 3 miles west along the coast is the refined small seaside town of Grange-over-Sands with lots of shops, golf and fishing. The properties make an excellent touring base for the whole of the southern Lake District. Shop 3 miles, pub with food 400 yards.£57From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
St Bees, EnglandA well-positioned, two-bedroom bungalow resting in St Bees, Cumbria. Near National Park. Close to amenities and beach. Pet-friendly. Enclosed garden. Ground-floor accommodation. Whitehaven 4.8 miles.£78From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Windermere, EnglandA delightful log cabin on White Cross Bay Holiday Park, in Troutbeck Bridge, Cumbria. Pet-friendly. Shared on-site facilities. Windermere 2 miles; Ambleside 3 miles.£109From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Ambleside, EnglandSuperb single-storey cottage in Clappersgate near Ambleside. Feature inglenook with gas fire, en-suite bedrooms. Two dogs welcome. Fell and riverside walks from door. Ambleside 1 mile. Hawkshead 4 miles.£99From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Bowness-on-Windermere, EnglandRubbing shoulders with prestigious properties in Storrs Park – a location known locally as ‘millionaires row’, Granton Lodge is a detached former lodge house set back on the edge of the manicured gardens of a substantial lakeside property. This fabulous location allows guests views of Lake Windermere across the neighbouring properties and the beautiful sunsets to be enjoyed this side of the lake. A typical early 20th century Lakeland lodge, the property has been sympathetically extended with the loft offering a spacious master suite enjoying lake views. Granton Lodge has elegant good looks, both inside and out, and careful attention to detail in offering guests well-presented comfortable accommodation.
Just a short drive from the centre of Bowness, Storrs Park is ideally placed to enjoy walks from the door to take advantage of its particularly picturesque location. The nearby Hawkshead ferry crossing offers easy access to the west of the lake and nearby typical Lakeland villages offer pubs with open fires, good beer and menus taking advantage of the excellent locally sourced produce. Head into Bowness, for an eclectic mix of shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants. Set on the edge of Lake Windermere, Bowness has a truly Lakeland feel and stunning views across the lake throughout the year. A wander up the hill from Bowness to Windermere offers guests further shops, many fine independent retailers, and an excellent choice of eateries. Shop 2 miles, pub 1 mile and restaurant 200 yards.£156From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
EnglandShore Meadow is a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Set just 150 yards from a beautiful, secluded sandy beach and enjoying an idyllic position in this tranquil, south-western corner of the Lakes where the mountains almost meet the sea. This semi-detached cottage is a short walk from the peaceful village centre of Silecroft. It has stunning westerly views over the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man and easterly views to Black Combe Fell. The beach extends for miles in both directions and is perfect for dog walking, lazy days building sandcastles or taking to the sea for fishing.
Shore Meadow has two double bedrooms and has been furnished and equipped to provide a really comfortable stay. There is a spacious breakfast kitchen which opens to a patio area with outside furniture, a large living room with two sofas and a wood burner, plus a separate dining room with French doors to the garden. There is also a large, enclosed, lawned garden, ideal for young children and dogs, and private parking for two cars.
Black Combe, the closest of the Lake District Fells, is only 2 miles away, and all of the westerly fells, including Scafell and Scafell Pike, are within easy reach, offering great walking for all abilities. Nearby attractions include Cumbria Heavy Horses, a BHS approved riding centre offering fell and beach rides on Clydesdale and Shire horses; water sports centre at Port Haverigg; South Lakeland Wild Animal Park, home to tigers, lions, white rhino, giraffes and lots of monkeys; historic Muncaster Castle, with stunning gardens and many seasonal events, also home of the World Owl Trust, and Ravenglass and Eskdale Narrow Gauge Railway, where you can ride a steam train through some of the most beautiful scenery in the Lake District. A farm shop and gallery at nearby Bootle also offers breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas. Short, beautiful drives take you to Coniston, with the Ruskin Museum which houses geology and copper mining exhibits; the boating centre and Bluebird Café, or Whitehaven, Cumbria’s oldest harbour, where the Rum Story exhibition gives a fresh view on the town, and The Beacon Museum, with five floors of interactive exhibits, powerful telescopes and seafaring displays, providing a fun family day out. Beach 150 yards. Shop 50 yards, pub and restaurant ¾ mile.£59From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Sockbridge, EnglandNestled near Pooley Bridge in the Lake District, this delightful holiday home is a detached bungalow, offering a serene retreat with its large living room heated by a modern electric fire. The property features a twin bedroom and a luxurious double room with a kingsize bed. The bathroom is equipped with a bath and a shower overhead, providing both comfort and convenience. A garage with a washer/dryer and ample space for bikes, paddle boards, and canoes adds to the convenience, and a large, enclosed garden invites relaxation surrounded by nature.
There is a wealth of places to visit within a half hour drive, so whether you choose to immerse yourself in history with a visit to Dalemain Mansion, an elegant historic home surrounded by stunning gardens. Or discover the medieval ruins of Penrith Castle, situated in the heart of the town. Explore the grounds and learn about the castle’s fascinating history. Rheged Centre is an arts and cultural venue offering exhibitions, shops, and a cinema, providing a perfect indoor option for a day out. Otherwise enjoy a relaxing walk along the picturesque shoreline of Lake Ullswater, soaking in the breathtaking views without venturing too far from the holiday home.
For more natural beauty visit Hutton in the Forest, a historic house with beautiful gardens and woodland. Explore the charming surroundings and perhaps enjoy a traditional afternoon tea. Take a short drive to Aira Force Waterfall, an enchanting natural attraction surrounded by woodlands. Enjoy a peaceful walk to the waterfall and relish the serenity of the area. For those seeking adventure, Rookin House offers a variety of outdoor activities such as horse riding, quad biking, and archery, providing a thrilling day out. After a busy days adventures why not discover the charm of Pooley Bridge by exploring its local pubs and restaurants, offering a taste of the region’s culinary delights. This holiday home near Pooley Bridge provides not only a comfortable retreat, but also easy access to a variety of local attractions and activities for a memorable Lake District experience.£61From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Matterdale End, EnglandPenfold is a spacious and comfortable well furnished property found in the charming small village of Dockray, close to Ullswater. Walk straight out on to the fells from the cottage door, or go pony trekking and see the sights from a different angle. Enjoy boating and sailing on Ullswater, or take in the magnificent scenery on a launch trip up the lake. This region offers something for everyone, whichever season you choose to visit, in the winter months why not join the Lake District ski club.
Dockray has its own pub to wander down to for some local fayre. The gorgeous Aira Force Waterfall is a short walk away, further away are the ample attractions of the Northern Lake District around Ullswater. Energetic pursuits abound, with cycling a particularly good option, or maybe try the National Trust’s walk around Aira Force, Gowbarrow Trail or Ullswater way. In a tranquil location, this beautifully finished conversion is an ideal spot for a couple or two to enjoy a Lake District break. Shop 4 miles, pub and restaurant 100 yards.£86From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
