The Glen Guest House

The Glen is a small, family-run bed and breakfast at Oxenholme on the southern edge of Kendal, and the dog welcome here is more considered than most guesthouses of its size manage. Dog treats and dog towels are put out as a matter of course alongside the tea tray, which tells you the hosts have thought about what arriving with a wet dog actually involves rather than simply ticking a pets-allowed box.

The house sits back in a quiet residential area, and dogs are welcomed alongside walkers, cyclists and families, which is a fair description of who stays here. The breakfast and the warmth of the hosts come up in almost every review, and rooms are comfortable if not large. Oxenholme station is a few minutes away, making this one of the easier Lake District bases to reach without a car, though the hill up from the platform is steep enough that a taxi is worth arranging if you are carrying luggage as well as managing a dog.

There are rules to know before you book. Dogs are accepted in some rooms but not the Standard Double Suite or the Double/Twin, and pet stays are by prior arrangement and subject to availability, so flag the dog when you reserve rather than at the door. Dogs are also not allowed in the dining room at breakfast, which matters if yours will not settle alone upstairs for half an hour.

Kendal is a practical base for the southern Lakes, with the Kentmere and Longsleddale valleys close by and Windermere a short drive off. Only one guest travelling with a dog has left detailed feedback so far, so treat the 4.5/5 paw rating as a provisional read. It suits a couple or a solo traveller with one settled dog who want a proper breakfast and a host-run house rather than a hotel, and works less well if your dog cannot be left during breakfast or if the pet-friendly room types are already taken.