Brundholme Glen, Keswick

Brundholme Glen is a whole house on the edge of Keswick with an enclosed rear garden and private parking, and pets stay free of charge. That combination makes it a practical, inexpensive base for a walking holiday with a dog: the riverside path and the park lead into the town centre on foot, and the northern fells start close enough that the car can stay put for most of a week.

Up to two pets can stay. The garden is the main draw - somewhere secure to let a dog out first thing without getting dressed for the weather, which is far from a given in a town-centre let. Inside, the house is set up for self-catering, with a washing machine that earns its keep after muddy days and a kitchen that guests rate well. The house rules ask that pets are kept off the furniture, so pack a throw if your dog likes the sofa.

Where the property divides opinion is condition. Guest feedback is mixed. The house is dated in places and the televisions draw complaints for being old and awkward to use, while the lower-scoring reviews go further: a grubby impression on arrival, moths, a musty smell in the entrance hall, a heating fault, and messages to the owner going unanswered. Plenty of other guests have stayed happily and rated it well. An overall guest score of 8.4 out of 10 across a dozen reviews is a fair reflection - a good location at a fair price rather than a polished property.

For a dog owner the trade is clear enough. The pet side of the stay is genuinely good: free pets, two dogs allowed, a secure garden and walks from the door. The house itself is a mixed bag. Brundholme Glen takes a 4.2/5 paw rating, and it suits walkers who are out all day and want a cheap, dog-secure base with the hills on the doorstep, and who will not mind an older property that shows its age.