22 Thirlmere, Windermere

22 Thirlmere is a whole-house lodge at White Cross Bay on the shore of Lake Windermere, and the shape of it is what suits dogs: the entire property is yours, there are no shared corridors or landings, and the decking outside is enclosed, so a dog can be let out without a lead in hand. There is room inside for a large family or a group of six or more, which is the other reason people bring a dog here rather than book a hotel room.

The decking is the feature guests with dogs mention most. It is generous, it has a hot tub on it, it catches the afternoon sun, and it is fenced well enough that a dog can be left out to lie in it. Some parties have arrived to find a dog bowl and poo bags put out ready. The wider site is set up for dogs as well, with an on-site restaurant where staff have made dogs and their owners welcome, and the lakeshore and Brockhole are both close enough for a walk before breakfast. Up to two pets are allowed per booking.

Two things deserve saying plainly, because they come up repeatedly rather than once. The first is cleanliness. Guests describe arriving to cobwebs, dusty sills, dirty kitchenware and, on occasion, dog hair left over from an earlier stay, and several have spent their first hour of the holiday cleaning. The second is the pet charge. Guests have been billed for pet-related cleaning after leaving muddy paw prints, with reports that a deep clean happens only at the start and end of the season. No pet fee is published for the lodge, so agree the cleaning terms with the owners before you book, and wipe paws down after wet walks.

The space, the setting and the decking are genuinely good, and most parties travelling with a dog rate the stay highly despite the grumbles. It earns a 4.3 out of 5 paw rating, and it suits families and groups with a house-trained dog who want a private base a short walk from the lake, and who will not mind giving the place a once-over on arrival.