Highside Farm

Highside Farm is a working sheep farm in Bassenthwaite, north of Keswick, run as a multi-format accommodation business by hosts Deborah and her family. The Grade I listed farmhouse dates to 1668, and the pet arrangement leans on the working-farm context: large outdoor space, a footpath from the front gate that climbs onto Ullock Pike and Carl Side, and the sort of farm-yard background where dogs are an everyday part of the operation rather than a managed exception.

The accommodation choice matters when booking with a dog. Four formats sit on the farm and they have different pet policies. The Sheepfold room - the barn-conversion B&B suite - is the explicitly dog-friendly room and the right pick for couples on a short break with a dog. Glamping huts welcome dogs per the official site. The 4-bedroom self-catering farmhouse has mixed signals across listing sources, so confirm directly before assuming dogs are allowed in that format. Camping pitches accept dogs on the campsite. The specific pet fee is not disclosed publicly; confirming the current charge with the operators at booking is the safe path.

The recurring theme across pet-traveller reviews is the welcome and the rural fit. Guests travelling with dogs consistently mention the hosts coming out to greet new arrivals and the well-thought-out room equipment that suits a wet-walk day (good shower, warm room, drying space). Multiple reviews specifically flag the property being well set up for dogs travelling in pairs, which is unusual for a B&B at this scale - couples bringing two medium-sized dogs report comfortable fit in the Sheepfold room rather than feeling cramped.

The location is the second pillar of the appeal. The trail up Skiddaw via Ullock Pike starts at the farm gate, which puts proper Lake District fell-walking within ten minutes of arrival rather than requiring a drive each day. Free public on-site parking removes one of the everyday frustrations of dog-walking from a guesthouse, and Bassenthwaite Lake is a short drive for flatter outings.

One non-negotiable: this is a working sheep farm, so dogs must be kept on a lead at all times around the farmyard and on adjacent footpaths. Owners of high-prey-drive breeds should think carefully about whether their dog will cope.

Best suited to: couples and small groups (or larger families taking the whole farmhouse if pets are confirmed) with one or two well-controlled dogs comfortable on a lead in a livestock setting. Particularly strong for walkers using Skiddaw and the Bassenthwaite fells as a base. Less of a fit for owners of dogs that cannot be reliably leashed near sheep.