Shemara Rooms

Shemara Rooms sits right in the centre of Keswick, a couple of minutes' walk from the main street, the shops and the lake, with the northern Lakeland fells that draw so many dog owners to Cumbria rising just beyond. It is a small, self-check-in guest house rather than a full-service hotel, and it has built a steady following among people travelling with a dog.

Dogs are welcome here for a £10 charge per stay, and the property is run by a private host who has clearly set the rooms up with dogs in mind. The touches guests with dogs mention most are the practical ones: towels for drying muddy paws after a wet walk, dog biscuits or gravy bones left out in the hallway, and bowls provided in the room.

Contact with the host before arrival comes up again and again as quick and helpful, including flexibility on early check-in where it can be arranged. A number of dog owners describe coming back more than once, which tends to be a good sign that a small property is getting the details right.

Location is a real strength. The rooms' bay windows look out over the mountains, and the town's pubs, restaurants and shops are within a couple of minutes on foot, with Derwentwater and the Pencil Museum a little further on. There is parking at the front, and the main town car park sits across the road for busier times.

A few things are worth knowing first. Check-in is through a lock box rather than a staffed reception, which suits late or independent arrivals but means there is no front desk on hand if something needs sorting. Because the dog-friendly rooms host a steady stream of dogs, some guests have noticed a faint doggy smell on arrival, a fair trade-off in a small place that genuinely welcomes pets. Rooms are on the compact side, and the odd review flags a cleaning or maintenance niggle.

On balance, Shemara Rooms suits dog owners after a central, low-fuss base for exploring Keswick and the northern Lakes on foot, who are comfortable with a self-check-in guest house over a rural lodge with staff on site.