St Johns View, Keswick

St Johns View puts you right in the middle of Keswick, which is about as good a base as a dog-owning walker could ask for in the northern Lake District. It is a self-catering apartment rather than a hotel, so you have the whole place to yourselves with no shared corridors or reception to negotiate with a dog in tow, and the town's fells, lakeshore paths and dog-welcoming pubs all start within a few minutes' walk of the door.

The property takes up to two well-behaved dogs, and the practical touches suggest the owners genuinely have four-legged guests in mind. Guests travelling with dogs single out the hard flooring, which shrugs off muddy paws after a day on the fells, and a dedicated entrance area for boots, coats, leads and dripping wellies. There is even a double-door arrangement at the entrance that stops a keen dog bolting into the street, a small thing that matters a lot when you are juggling bags and a lead on arrival.

Beyond the pet-friendly angle, the apartment is roomy for its central spot, with two comfortable double bedrooms and enough storage to spread out for a week. Reviewers consistently praise how close it sits to the centre while still staying quiet enough at night, and the management ring ahead before arrival with check-in details, which takes the stress out of collecting keys.

Cleanliness on arrival is the recurring complaint, and it is one dog owners should read closely: separate visitors have reported dog hair left in the flat, staining on a bedroom carpet and mould in the bathroom. It is worth a quick once-over when you get in and a word with the office if anything is not up to scratch. Check-in and check-out times also run a little tight for a full week's stay.

On balance, St Johns View suits walkers and small families with a dog or two who want to step straight out into Keswick and onto the fells, and who value a proper boot room over hotel-style extras.