Shemara Rooms

Shemara Rooms sits on Bank Street in the middle of Keswick, a couple of minutes from the main street and about ten from the lake, with the northern fells rising behind the town. It is a small guest house run by a private host rather than a full-service hotel, and it has built a steady following among people who travel with a dog.

Dogs stay for £10 per stay, a flat charge rather than a nightly one, which keeps a long weekend affordable by Lake District standards. The rooms are set up with dogs in mind: bowls in the room, towels for drying muddy paws after a wet walk on the fells, and dog biscuits left out in the hallway. Guests travelling with dogs mention those practical touches more often than anything else.

The host is the other thing that comes up repeatedly. Check-in is by lock box, so arrivals are flexible, and guests describe communication beforehand as quick and helpful, including early check-in where it can be arranged. Small extras get noticed too: complimentary drinks in the fridge, charging cables in the hallway for anyone who forgot theirs, and local walking suggestions left in the room.

The rooms themselves vary. Several are large, with bay windows and a genuine mountain view; others are on the small side, and a handful of guests have found their room stuffy or less than spotless, with the shared hallway and stairs looking tired. A dog-friendly room can carry a faint dog smell, which is worth knowing if you are sensitive to it. There is a pub across the road, so a window left open on a Friday night will let the noise in, and parking is straightforward with the main town car park opposite if the spaces outside are taken.

For dog owners who want to park once and walk everywhere, that mix works well: it earns a 4.4 out of 5 paw rating, and the compromises are cosmetic rather than practical.