Mellguards, Howtown

Mellguards is a four-bedroom country cottage at Howtown, on the quiet eastern shore of Ullswater in the Lake District. It is a whole-property rental with room for a group, and its setting is the main draw: this is open, walkable countryside by one of the Lakes' most scenic stretches of water, well away from the busier towns, which makes it a natural fit for a stay with a dog.

The pet-friendly picture rests on a small number of reviews, so treat it as an early read rather than a settled one. The signal that is there is positive: a guest who stayed with dogs called it a fabulous location and great for dogs, and the space, layout and kitchen come in for praise as a comfortable base for a group. With four bedrooms and open country on the doorstep, it suits families or a couple of households travelling together who want their dogs along for long walks by the water.

The honest caveat is housekeeping. More than one guest has been let down by the cleaning on arrival, including dog hair left on rugs and floors from a previous stay that had to be vacuumed again, along with crumbs and dishes that had been missed. To their credit, staff arranged for cleaners to return during one stay, but the result still fell short of what guests expected at this level, so it is worth a quick check when you arrive. A couple of smaller gaps came up too: no hairdryer, and outdoor seating that could be more comfortable.

On balance, Mellguards works best for groups who want a spacious Ullswater country base with their dogs and are prepared to give the place a once-over on arrival. For long lakeside walks with a dog and plenty of room to spread out, the location earns its keep, with the small review pool and cleaning notes above worth bearing in mind.