Anvil Cottage, Near Sawrey

Anvil Cottage is a traditional Lakeland house in the middle of Near Sawrey, the tiny village next door to Beatrix Potter's Hill Top, and it sits in some of the best walking country in the southern Lake District. It welcomes dogs, and its whole-house layout makes it an easy choice for anyone who would rather not manage shared corridors or hotel lifts with a dog in tow.

One well-behaved dog is welcome, and the property is set up with practical touches that dog owners repeatedly single out. There is a utility room by the back door for coming in from the garden, stone and tile floors downstairs that wipe clean easily, and a log burner that makes the place cosy after a wet day on the fells. The garden has a metal side gate that closes off a secure area for a dog to potter about, though it is on the small side and reached by three stone steps.

Walks start straight from the door, with Hawkshead a couple of miles away and Coniston around fifteen minutes by car. The Tower Bank Arms across the road is a well-regarded dog-friendly pub, though tables tend to book up well ahead. Because Hill Top draws so many visitors, the front of the cottage can get busy with passing foot traffic in summer.

The most consistent criticism from guests, including several who travel with dogs themselves and some as recently as 2025 and 2026, is a strong residual dog smell in the lounge and rugs, alongside cleanliness that a number felt needed a deeper clean. It is worth weighing up, and if that matters to you it is sensible to ask the property directly about recent housekeeping before booking.

Anvil Cottage suits dog owners who want a genuinely dog-ready base for Lake District walking and are relaxed about a well-used, lived-in cottage. Anyone expecting a spotless finish should set expectations accordingly.