The Angel Inn

The Angel Inn is a busy, well-loved pub with rooms on Helm Road in Bowness-on-Windermere, a few minutes' walk up from the lake shore and the steamer piers. For a Lake District break with a dog it is a practical base: the lakeside paths start at the bottom of the road, there are plenty of places to eat within walking distance, and the inn takes dogs for a nightly charge.

Dogs are accepted at £15 per pet, per night, and the number of rooms that can take pets is limited, so tell the inn you are bringing a dog when you book rather than on arrival. Over a long weekend with two dogs that charge adds up, so it is worth factoring in when comparing places around Windermere.

There are no guest reviews yet from people who stayed here with a dog, so there is little first-hand detail on how dogs are looked after once they arrive. The wider guest feedback is clear on the basics, though: friendly and helpful staff, a good breakfast, and a location that is hard to beat for walking down to the lake and around the town. Feedback from guests without dogs also suggests dogs are a familiar sight in the bar and dining areas, and not everyone travelling without one would choose to share a dining room with them.

The main practical catch is the annex. Some bedrooms are in Oakbank House across the road and reached by steps, and guests placed there have found the stairs and the shuffle of moving the car at check-in a nuisance. Parking is tight in general. If your dog struggles with steps, ask for a main-building room when you book.

The Angel Inn suits couples and families who want a lively, central Bowness base for days on the lakeside paths and fells, with a dog that is relaxed around other people and other dogs.