Laburnum Cottage, Windermere

Laburnum Cottage sits on Derby Square in the middle of Windermere town, roughly ten seconds' walk from the high street, with private parking and a small enclosed yard at the back. That combination - town centre, own parking, contained outdoor space - is unusual enough in Windermere to be the main reason to book it with a dog, since it removes both the parking hunt and the midnight walk down a public road.

Two well-behaved dogs are welcome at no extra charge, and the welcome extends past the policy: guests arriving with dogs find treats and a dog towel waiting, which tells you the owners have thought about who actually stays here. Dog owners describe the cottage as spacious, clean and genuinely home-from-home, and the location earns near-universal praise. Dogs are not to be left unattended or allowed on the furniture, so it suits a dog that travels everywhere with you rather than one you planned to leave while you eat out.

Two things to weigh. The parking is private but tight, and the booking confirmation warns that only small or medium cars will manage it - families arriving in mid-size SUVs have got in, but report it takes patience rather than a single turn. More significantly, the cottage is an old building with a known damp problem that the owners manage by keeping radiators running, which makes for hot nights in summer and means clothes left on the floor come up damp. Reports on general upkeep are mixed, with chipped paintwork and the odd cleaning miss noted alongside the praise.

Best suited to one or two dogs and owners who want to park once and walk everywhere, and who will take a dated interior in exchange for a yard and a high-street doorstep.