Talcomb Cottage, Thornthwaite

Talcomb Cottage sits at Thornthwaite, a couple of miles outside Keswick on the edge of Whinlatter Forest, and what it offers a dog is the walking. Footpaths run straight from the property, forest tracks and streamside paths start within a few minutes, and Braithwaite and its pubs are an easy stroll along the road. For an owner who wants to open the door and go, the location is hard to beat.

Up to three dogs are welcome and the owner asks that they be well behaved. Inside, the kitchen and bathroom have been renovated and the kitchen is properly equipped, which counts for something after a wet day on the fells. You can hear the stream from the bedroom, and the views are the reason people come back.

There are things a dog owner should know before booking. There is no garden, which owners travelling with dogs have found awkward, as there is nowhere enclosed to let a dog out last thing at night. The stairs are steep and narrow with the bathroom downstairs, so an older or arthritic dog may struggle and a nervous one will need carrying. There is also no vacuum cleaner in the cottage, which is an odd gap in a pet-friendly let and makes it hard to clear up after your own dog before you leave. Owners have been asked about dog hair afterwards, so a lint roller is worth packing.

Housekeeping is the other inconsistency. Some stays have been spotless, others have arrived to a cottage that had clearly not been turned round properly, with hair and bits left from previous guests, and the owner lives far enough away that it is not quickly put right. Locally, dog bins are scarce and there is a fair amount of mess left on verges and fence posts, so bring your own bags and plan to carry them.

Best suited to active walkers with a fit, hardy dog who will take the steep stairs in their stride and value footpaths from the door over a flawless finish.