Ghyll Bank Byre, Kentmere

Ghyll Bank Byre is a seven-sleeper barn conversion on the same working hillside above Staveley as its sibling cottage, at the mouth of the Kentmere valley - and dog-travelling guests rate it perfectly so far: a 5.0 paw rating from the dog-stay feedback, including a full family-of-seven-plus-dog takeover where the owner came round to check everything was working for them. One well-behaved dog is welcome.

Know the setting before you book: this is a genuinely working fell farm, and sheep roam right up to the back door - guests have been surprised by quite how close. That makes the lead rule around the property absolute, and it makes the Byre a poor match for a dog with a strong chase instinct, but a wonderful one for a steady dog that likes lying on a terrace watching the world. The front terrace with its furniture and barbecue looks across magnificent Kentmere views; there is no enclosed garden, so toilet trips are lead trips.

The walking is the point of being here: the Kentmere horseshoe and the quieter valley-floor lanes start from the hillside, Staveley village - with its bakery and beer hall, both easy about dogs - is a few minutes down the hill, and Windermere is five miles. If your party is bigger than one household, the neighbouring Ghyll Bank Cow Shed takes a dog too, and the two together make a proper multi-family fell base.

Honest notes from the wider pool: the overall score sits at four stars rather than five, with occasional comments on tired corners and damp smells - it is a farm barn with views, not a boutique finish. Confirm any pet charge directly when booking.

Best suited to a large family or walking group with one calm, sheep-steady dog who want the fells from the door and will trade polish for position.