Discover a collection of dog-friendly farm stays across the Lake District, including cosy cottages, historic barn conversions, spacious farmhouses, charming lodges, shepherd’s huts, and glamping pods. With easy access to miles of scenic countryside walks, new scents to explore, from hedgerows to animal trails, and open fires perfect for curling up beside, a working farm holiday is a treat for both you and your four-legged friend.
The Lake District is the ultimate dog walking destination in Britain — and a farm stay here is the best possible base for it. The fells offer some of the finest off-lead walking in England on open access land including the ridges above Langdale, the quieter eastern fells around Shap and Bampton, and the high ground of the Helvellyn range. The valleys provide gentler alternatives with riverside paths along the Brathay and the Rothay, woodland trails through ancient sessile oak forest, and the lakes themselves, most of which welcome dogs for a swim. Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston Water, and Grasmere all have accessible shores where dogs can go in, a significant bonus for water-loving breeds after a long day on the fells. A farm stay in the Lake District places you in this landscape rather than at its edge, with direct access to footpaths from the property. Just be aware that the most popular areas like Ambleside, Grasmere, Windermere, can be very busy in summer, and dogs must be kept on leads around all livestock. The quieter valleys of Eskdale, Wasdale, and Borrowdale offer the same extraordinary landscape with considerably more space.
