The Oaks Cottage

The Oaks Cottage is a whole-house rental on Victoria Road, a few minutes' walk from the middle of Penrith, and it suits dog owners who want a town base rather than a remote one. Two well-behaved pets are welcome, and the house is set up in a way that makes travelling with them straightforward: a big kitchen diner, a private yard out the back, and surfaces that are easy to keep clean after a wet day out. Guests who bring dogs tend to come away with the impression that the owners are dog people themselves.

Position is the main draw. You can walk to the shops, pubs and restaurants in Penrith town centre, and the railway station is close enough to leave the car behind for a day out to Carlisle. For the Lakes, Ullswater and Pooley Bridge are about fifteen minutes by car, with the Lowther estate and the Eden valley closer still, so it works well for people who want fells in the day and a town on the doorstep in the evening.

The thing to go in aware of is housekeeping, which is the property's weak spot. Arrival cleanliness is raised repeatedly, including dog hair left on bedding and a vacuum cleaner clogged with it from previous stays. The owner responds quickly when it is flagged and has offered goodwill gestures, but if you were counting on a working vacuum to clear up after your own dog, check before you travel. Parking is on-street under a residents' permit scheme rather than off-road, which takes some planning each day.

Best suited to dog owners who want to walk into a town with their dog and drive out to the lakes, and who value space and a central position over a rural garden. Less suited to anyone bringing more than two dogs, or anyone who wants a host on site.