Kirkby Lonsdale is not just any thriving market town. It was runner up in the Great British High Street Awards and scooped the top prize in the Sunday Times Best Place to Live in the North West in 2019. Living up to this reputation is the high standard of dog-friendly cottages in Kirkby Lonsdale and its surrounds. Whether you are looking for a cottage with a big family kitchen, large garden, or hot tub.
A fantastic cottage retaining original features with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open fire in the lounge. There’s on street parking, bike storage and pub is within one mile. Coniston Water is 9.5 miles where you can try kayaking and canoeing.
This wonderful converted old chapel is ideal for a small family. Located in 5 acres of woodland, facilities include a woodburner, enclosed garden and private parking. Newby Bridge is just 15 miles, while Wastewater is just over 22 miles.
This fantastic converted stable has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a well-equipped kitchen. There’s private parking for two cars, bike storage in the garden and a woodburner with logs provided. Visit the Dentdale valley with its stunning views.
This charming retreat has two bedrooms, one bathroom and an open plan lounge/diner. There’s a lawned garden, wifi throughout and patio area to the rear. Head to Lake Windermere which is 14 miles where you can enjoy boat trips and watersport activities.
This brilliant 17th century cottage is an ideal romantic escape. It has one king size bedroom and one family bathroom, as well as a microwave and dishwasher in the kitchen. Head 14 miles away to the beautiful town of Kendal which is the gateway to the Lakes.
This lovely period cottage has two bedrooms and one bathroom, as well as an open plan kitchen/diner. In the lounge is a woodburner with logs provided and theres parking for one vehicle. The Forest of Bowland is easily accessible just 7 miles away.
This large stylish holiday home has four bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and is situated on a working farm. Facilities include free parking, a woodburner, utility room and a Smart TV in the lounge.
This fabulous 5 star retreat is perfect for a large group with five bedrooms and four bathrooms. There’s a travel cot and highchair available, underfloor heating throughout and a large private garden. The Ingleton Waterfalls Trail is just 3 miles and one of the most popular local attractions.
Whether you are looking for a cosy apartment, charming end-terrace cottage, a beautifully presented detached bungalow on a well-appointed holiday park, or a modern first-floor apartment between West Looe and East Looe on the south coast, pet-friendly, charming accommodation is in abundance.
Set on the banks of the River Lune amid surrounded by lush green countryside and rolling hills in the distance, it is as picture-perfect as it gets. Kirkby is not just a pretty face though, at its heart is a bustling community, jam-packed with independent traders and quaint shops such as the vivid pink Sweet Shop and the dog-egg blue-fronted quaint Cross Point Café. Most of the pubs are dog friendly, The Sun particularly so where you can quaff a pint of Ruskin’s, Pennine Ambler or Radical ale, fresh from the local brewery while Fido receives fuss and treats.
From your front door, you can explore the back lanes with charming names such as Salt Pie Lane, where homemade mutton pies were once served to farmers on market day. You and your doggie can take the 86 Radical Steps down to the River Lune. The higgledy piggedly steps got their name when the political radical Dr Francis Pearson built them in 1820 to divert a public footpath that ran through his garden.
If you are a keen walker and birdwatcher, then you are in for a treat. One of our cottages is actually situated in Hutton Roof, a few miles out of Kirkby Lonsdale. It is not a hassle to hike it if you are in the town centre, though. The scenery is striking with views of the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales as you climb to the crags at Hutton Roof and on to Farleton Fell. The area is a nature reserve so make sure your dog is on his best behaviour. Here you will see fly orchids, lily of the valley, and tortoiseshell and brimstone butterflies. Don’t be surprised if you see a woodpecker, long-tailed tits, redwing and mistle thrush.
Of course, you can take a day trip to the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, but you will likely have more than enough to do in the family-friendly corner of the country.
You won’t have to travel far to find Ruskin’s bench at the edge of St Mary’s churchyard in Kirkby Lonsdale to enjoy the panoramic views of the Lune Valley. The 19th-century art critic returned to this place time and again, claiming it was the best view in England.
Once you have appreciated the view and your pooch has investigated the area, there is the 12th-century church to visit. The churchyard was made famous by a painting by J M W Turner that now hangs in London’s Tate Gallery.
A stay in Kirkby would not be complete without a trip to Devil’s Bridge to marvel at this ancient monument while you munch on a bacon butty from the legendary food van on the bridge. It is only a mile from the market town of Kirkby, where you are likely to be staying in one of the period cottages.
If your fur baby loves the water, then there is plenty here to paddle in and rocks to scamper over. According to the legend, it was a dog who warded off the devil but not before he had built what was once the only bridge over the River Lune.
If you are an avid ale drinker, then you have to experience the Royal Barn, the latest offering from Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery in the town centre. It is a community-based beer hall with an impressive 20 pumps of keg craft ale and casks. You are welcome to bring your four-legged bestie along with you.
It is open seven days a week and there is regular music and entertainment in the evenings. Check out the brewery’s website for tours that last about two hours.
This area is often overlooked for the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District pooch friendly accommodation, but its beauty is that it is on the edge of both. This results in fewer tourists, but Kirkby Lonsdale is fast emerging as one of Lancashire’s gems.
All the dog-friendly cottages and accommodation have provenance from granary conversions to luxury cedar log cabins. They all have their own personality; most are family-friendly and all welcome at least one dog. Whether it is a characterful cottage on a farm or a Grade II listed townhouse on the high street, it is safe to say that there will always be room for Rover.