Stone Barn

Stone Barn is a converted 2-bedroom barn at Barton Hall Farm, a working farm at the northern end of Ullswater (about 5 miles outside Penrith, postcode CA10 2NG). It's a stand-out choice for a couple or small family travelling with a dog - the on-site dog infrastructure here is genuinely above what most self-catering Lakeland cottages offer, and the location is hard to beat for dog-friendly fell walking.

The unusually useful pet amenities are the headline. Reviewers repeatedly mention two things you won't find at most cottages: (1) a dedicated outdoor dog bath/shower with warm water (invaluable after a wet Lakeland walk), and (2) an on-site kennel where you can safely leave the dog for a few hours if you want to visit one of Pooley Bridge's pubs or restaurants that doesn't take dogs. That second amenity in particular is the kind of detail that turns 'we could come here with the dog' into 'we'd actively choose here over the alternatives'.

The cottage itself sits in an enclosed garden looking down towards the bottom of Ullswater, with walks starting straight from the door - about 20 minutes across the fields and the moor brings you into Pooley Bridge with its tearooms and shops. The High Street fell range is a mile away; Helvellyn and the bigger central-Lakes walks are within easy driving distance. The cottage is a 2-bedroom layout (kingsize + twin) sleeping 4, with wood-fired renewable central heating, an open-plan living space with a wood burner, and the standard self-catering kitchen.

Hosts Amanda and Nigel are mentioned by name in nearly every review - the kind of warm, hands-on welcome that explains why one regular guest is on her sixth stay in two years. Coffee, tea, biscuits and milk are on the table when you arrive.

One practical note: it's a working farm, so children need supervision around farm hazards. Adults and well-managed dogs are fine - the enclosed garden is genuinely enclosed.

Best suited to a couple or small family with one or two dogs who want a comfortable Ullswater base with door-step walking, willing to pay for the materially better dog infrastructure (bath, kennel, enclosed garden). The 4.7/5 paw rating reflects four independently positive pet-traveller stays plus the substantively above-average on-site dog amenities - one of the strongest signals across the Cumbria pet-friendly portfolio.