Ingle Burrow, Windermere

Ingle Burrow is a Victorian cottage a five-minute stroll from the centre of Windermere, and it is one of the most consistently loved dog stays we have covered in the Lakes: every dog-travelling guest in its review history scores it full marks, giving it a 5.0 paw rating across six confirmed dog stays - a genuinely strong pool rather than a one-review wonder.

The dog welcome is thought through rather than incidental. Two dogs are welcome, the cottage keeps dog bowls and blankets ready for arrivals, and the enclosed paved garden is a sun trap where dogs happily potter while you eat outside. Owners repeatedly mention the same winning combination: a secure garden plus two parks within a couple of minutes' walk, which sorts the morning and evening routine without a car. One practical note from a guest with small dogs - the gap under the back gates is worth checking on arrival if yours is pocket-sized.

The cottage itself sleeps five or six across three floors, with three bathrooms, off-road parking for two cars, an open fire for post-fell evenings and a proper kitchen with a utility room - useful for drying soggy towels and muddier dogs. Shops, restaurants and pubs are five minutes on foot, and guests found the town notably dog-friendly, with most places happy to take a well-behaved dog.

The location is classic Lakes convenience: Lake Windermere's shore is a twenty-minute walk, Bowness is minutes away, and the big fell days - Orrest Head is the closest classic - start from the doorstep. Sykes lists no pet fee for the property, but confirm current terms when booking.

Best suited to families or couples with one or two dogs who want the full Lake District experience - fells, lake, pubs - from a walk-everywhere base with a secure garden waiting at the end of the day.