Duddon Cottage, Broughton-in-Furness

Duddon Cottage sits in the middle of Broughton-in-Furness, the small market town at the foot of the Duddon Valley - the Lake District's quietest proper valley - and its dog-stay record is one of the most consistent we cover in the south Lakes: a 4.8 paw rating across seven dog stays, including guests who come back year after year and one party of four adults and two dogs. Two well-behaved pets are welcome.

What dog owners single out is how well the practical bones work: a secure, enclosed lawned garden that owners repeatedly call perfectly safe for the dog, floors downstairs that forgive a bit of Duddon mud, and - the detail every wet-season Lakes traveller will appreciate - a proper scullery-style utility with washing machine and dryer for drying boots, jackets and dogs after a soaking. Inside it is a cosy three-bedroom cottage for six, woodburner included, with guests describing home comforts rather than holiday-rental sparseness.

The setting is the draw for walkers who find central Lakeland too busy: the Duddon Valley's fells and river pools start minutes away and stay quiet even in August, Broughton's square has dog-tolerant pubs (useful for the football, as one guest discovered), and the estuary and south-west coast are close. Harter Fell, Dunnerdale's knotts and the Swinside stone circle make a spread of dog-day options without a queue in sight.

Honest notes from the wider pool: the bathroom is dated (guests say so while still scoring five stars), and Broughton is a drive from the honeypot sights - which is precisely why its regulars choose it. Confirm any pet charge directly when booking, as none is listed.

Best suited to families or two couples with one or two dogs who want the quiet side of the Lakes, a genuinely secure garden and somewhere built for muddy returns.