Balmoral Apartment, Keswick

Balmoral Apartment has one of the best positions in Keswick, right by the shops and bars, a short walk from Fitz Park and the edge of Derwentwater, and high enough up to look out over the fells. Dogs are welcome for a fee of £15 per stay. If you and your dog can manage the climb, the views are the reward.

That climb is the thing to settle before anything else. The flat is on the top floor and is reached by an external metal staircase. Guests have counted somewhere between 60 and 66 steps across several flights, and there is no lift. Owners have carried dogs up it, and at least one dog flatly refused to use the open metal treads. In rain or ice it is slippery, and it has to be done every time the dog needs out, including first thing in the morning. For a fit, confident dog that is a minor chore. For an older, heavy, anxious or short-legged one it is the difference between a good holiday and a miserable one, and owners have said plainly that they would have thought twice had they known.

Assuming the stairs are fine for you, the rest is a mixed picture worth knowing at the price. The flat is warm, central and comes with an allocated space, though the car park is tight and awkward for anything larger than a small hatchback and involves a walk round the buildings. Inside it is basic: a soft, worn mattress, wobbly dining chairs, a sparsely equipped kitchen and no wifi come up repeatedly, along with a musty, damp feel and hot water that can be temperamental. Housekeeping is the other recurring gripe, with bathrooms, floors and sofa cushions that had not been properly gone over. No dog bowl is provided, so bring your own.

Best suited to active owners with a surefooted dog who will happily trade a demanding staircase and plain furnishings for being in the middle of Keswick with a view over the fells. It is not the right choice for an older or less mobile dog, a puppy, or anyone who needs step-free access.