Holly Cottage, Ambleside

Holly Cottage is a whole-house rental on the edge of central Ambleside, and its appeal for dog owners is straightforward: you get the entire property to yourself, with a gated yard attached and no shared corridors or lobbies to negotiate. For a small dog that settles better without other guests coming and going, that layout does most of the work.

The property takes one small dog, and the garden is gated - the kind of detail that decides whether you can open the back door on a wet morning or have to find the lead first. No pet charge is published on the property's booking listing, so it is worth agreeing that with the owner when you book, along with whether your dog fits the small-dog rule.

Inside, it is set up as a family house rather than a compact bolthole: generous bedrooms, three bathrooms - unusual at this size and grade - and a homely rather than boutique feel. Parking for two cars sits at the property, which matters in Ambleside, where roadside space in the centre is scarce and often a walk from the front door.

Ambleside itself is about five minutes on foot, and the caveat guests with dogs raise is the gradient: the walk down to the village is steep, and steeper coming back with shopping. Most dogs will not mind it at all, but it is worth factoring in if you are carrying luggage on arrival or travelling with an older dog. From the village you are close to the Stock Ghyll Force path and the Rothay river walks, both of which suit a short morning outing.

Holly Cottage earns a 4.5/5 paw rating. It suits a family travelling with one small dog who wants a proper house with parking and a secure bit of outdoor space, and does not mind a steep few minutes between the front door and the village.