Old Brewery Barn, Ullswater

Old Brewery Barn is a converted barn at Tirril, a couple of miles from Pooley Bridge and the northern end of Ullswater, let as a whole house rather than as rooms. For anyone travelling with a dog that format does most of the heavy lifting: no shared corridors, no other guests to negotiate, and an enclosed, fenced garden the dog can be let straight out into. Dog bowls are kept in the utility room, and there is a stock of pet kit tucked away with the spare linen for guests who need it. It earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.

Inside, the barn is a notably well-equipped five-star conversion. The kitchen runs to a dishwasher, an air fryer, a blender and a coffee maker, with cooking oils and spices left in the cupboards, and there is a washing machine, dryer and drying stand, which matters more than it sounds after a wet day out on the fells with a dog. A wood burner heats the whole house, and the garden has two seating areas, a chiminea and a hot tub. The hosts live close by, keep out of the way, and are quick to answer a message.

Two things to plan around. There is no pet fee published, so agree the arrangements directly when you book rather than assuming. And this is genuinely rural: you need a car for a food shop, and guests consistently recommend arriving stocked up.

Dog-owner feedback on this one is still limited, so the picture is a partial one, but the combination of a private house, a fenced garden and Ullswater walking a short drive away makes it a natural fit. Best suited to a family or a group of friends with a dog or two who want the run of a smart, quiet house within striking distance of the lake.