Lake District Stapleton
The Cottage, Stapleton
Independent pet-friendly review by Four Legged Guests · updated October 2026 · paw rating built from 6 verified guest reviews mentioning pets
Bring your dog if
- You want a whole-property rental - no shared lobbies or corridors to navigate with your dog
- You're basing yourself in Stapleton / the Lake District and want a pet-friendly anchor for day trips
- The wider guest experience is strong - guests rate this 9.3/10 overall on booking platforms
Worth knowing
- Pet fee and any size restrictions aren't published - confirm directly with the property before booking
How this review was built Evidence, sources, refresh cadence
- Evidence: 6 pet-mention guest reviews sourced from major booking platforms - guests who explicitly mentioned travelling with a dog. Each review is screened for pet-relevance, then judged for sentiment to compute the paw rating.
- Not a personal visit. We don't stay at every hotel we cover - we summarise patterns from real guest reviews, paraphrased and never quoted verbatim. Full standard on our editorial policy page.
- Wider context: The property has 83 guest reviews overall across booking platforms, averaging 9.3/10 - the paw rating reflects only the pet-mentioning subset.
- Last refreshed: October 2026. Policies and pricing drift; we re-check on a rolling basis. Confirm specifics with the property at the moment you book.
- How the paw rating works: Full detail on the methodology page, including the three verification gates and known limitations.
Pet-friendly summary
The Cottage is a roomy rural house at Littlefield, between the villages of Stapleton and Hethersgill in the quiet countryside north-east of Carlisle, and it works well for a big family or group holiday that includes the dogs. Groups have fitted in six adults, two children and three small dogs without feeling cramped, and the large enclosed garden at the back is the feature dog owners value most, as it lets dogs out safely without a lead.
Host Jo gets warm praise throughout. She is in touch well ahead of arrival with access details, often greets guests on arrival and is on hand with suggestions for the local area. Inside, the house is described as spacious, clean and nicely furnished, with a hot tub, a games room, a barbecue and three toilets, which helps with a full house. One thing to know before you book: there are a couple of friendly resident dogs on the property who enjoy a fuss, so think carefully if your own dog does not get on with other dogs. A charge is made for each dog, and the amount is not published, so ask about it when you book.
The setting is peaceful and properly remote. Open countryside surrounds the house, there are good dog walks a short drive away, and a nearby village has a well-liked fish and chip shop. Carlisle is within reach for a night out, but you will need a car, and it pays to bring supplies with you.
The caveats are small but worth knowing. Guests have mentioned creaky floors, an upstairs toilet that kept running overnight, limited cutlery and cleaning supplies for a large group, and flies coming in through open windows on hot days. With seven or more adults, the games room may end up doubling as an extra bedroom.
For a family or group who want space, a secure garden and a hot tub in the North Cumbrian countryside, The Cottage earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.
Highlights from pet-mentioning reviews
What reviewers travelling with dogs consistently noted about staying here.
- Large enclosed garden for dogs
- Room for big groups with several dogs
- Friendly resident dogs on the property
- Charge made for each dog
- Remote spot, car needed for walks
About this hotel
The Cottage is a self-catering holiday house at Littlefield near Hethersgill, in the countryside of Stapleton parish north-east of Carlisle, Cumbria. Rated 4.5 stars, it sleeps a large group and comes with a hot tub, a games room, an enclosed rear garden and a barbecue area. It holds a 9.3/10 guest score across 83 reviews.
Hotel facts
Photos
Location
The Cottage, Littlefield, Hethersgill, Stapleton, CA6 6HX