High Kiln Bank Cottage

High Kiln Bank Cottage sits high in the Duddon Valley above Ulpha, and the feature that matters most to anyone arriving with a dog is the enclosed orchard. A fenced patch of ground is a rare thing in this part of the Lakes, where self-catering gardens usually run straight out onto open fell, and guests with dogs single it out again and again as the thing that made the week work.

One well-behaved dog is welcome per booking. Beyond that the property leans on its setting: open-access land begins at the door, so a walk can start without getting in the car, and Caw, Harter Fell and the Duddon's stepping stones and river pools are all within striking distance. The Newfield Inn at Seathwaite and the Blacksmiths Arms at Broughton Mills are both used to dogs, and guests report taking theirs into the local pubs without any fuss.

The cottage itself is warm and well equipped, which counts for a lot when a wet dog comes in off the fell, and there is enough room that a large dog and a full family are not on top of each other. The owners leave a bottle of wine and biscuits, and their mother lives next door and is generous with local knowledge.

The trade-off is remoteness. There is no wifi, mobile coverage is patchy and TV reception is limited, so plan on being offline. The nearest shop is about four miles back down narrow lanes towards Broughton, which means arriving with provisions rather than nipping out. The orchard is a short walk from the house rather than opening directly off it, so a quick let-out in the dark takes a moment longer than you would like. It earns 4.6 out of 5, and it suits walkers who want a quiet valley to themselves and a dog that will make full use of a fenced patch of grass.