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CottageEnclosed garden

Old School House - Matterdale

Matterdale, Cumbria

A converted school for eight above Ullswater at Matterdale with a ground floor bedroom, a wood burner in a big fireplace and two enclosed sitting areas, two dogs welcome.

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Matterdale is a valley rather than a village: a lane, a beck, a scatter of farms and a small church in the hills above Ullswater. Old School House is what the lane was arranged around. Eight sleep across four bedrooms, two dogs come as well, and dog friendly starts at a porch built for boots and leads.

Inside keeps the original of everything. A wood burner sits in a large fireplace with carved antique chairs round it, the dining table shares the room, and the kitchen is up three steps. A twin bedroom and shower room are on the ground floor, so a dog sleeps beside somebody without either climbing. Above, a mezzanine landing under a sloping ceiling holds a chair and the best window in the house, three bedrooms past it.

The dogs have gone out to the gravel behind the house, which is where the evening light lands. The wood burner was lit early by somebody who came off the fell cold. Two people have crossed the lane to the garden with a bottle and are in full view of the kitchen, and one of the dogs keeps getting up to check on them. Nothing has come along the lane in forty minutes.

Two hills stand over the valley and both are worth a morning. Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell are round green whalebacks with paths straight up and the northern lakes laid out from the top. Gowbarrow rises the other way with a terrace cut along its flank above the water. Ullswater is 1.5 miles down the road, long and narrow and shut in by fells, and the walking at its northern end stays quiet enough to let a dog off.

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from £1,135 for 7 nights

Old School House - Matterdale takes 2 dogs and is booked through holidaycottages.co.uk.

Book with holidaycottages.co.uk

Prices are a guide only, checked 27 August 2026, and change with dates and availability. We may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.

At a Glance

Dogs Welcome: 2 dogs
Enclosed Garden: Yes; Over the lane, an enclosed garden has seating so you can take a drink outside and bask in the sun
Sleeps: 8 guests
Rooms: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Price: from £1,135 / 7 nights
Grading: 4 star
Arrival: in from 16:00, out by 10:00
Facilities: Open fire, Parking, Wifi

Old School House - Matterdale from £1,135 for 7 nights

Book with holidaycottages.co.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Old School House - Matterdale dog friendly?
Yes, Old School House welcomes up to two dogs. The house is set up with them in mind from the start — there's a porch designed for boots and leads, gravel behind the house to let them out, and a ground floor bedroom so your dog can sleep beside you without navigating any stairs.
Are dogs allowed at Old School House - Matterdale year round?
The listing doesn't specify any seasonal restrictions on dogs, so it's worth contacting the owner directly to confirm availability for your dates. Given the nature of the property and its surroundings, it seems well suited to dogs in any season.
What should I know before visiting Old School House - Matterdale with my dog?
The house takes a maximum of two dogs, so it's not the right fit if you're bringing a bigger pack. The location is brilliant for dog walking — Ullswater is just 1.5 miles down the road with quiet paths at its northern end where dogs can be let off, and Great Mell Fell, Little Mell Fell and Gowbarrow are all within easy reach for a good morning out on the fells.

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Matterdale

54.5921, -2.9419

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Old School House - Matterdale from £1,135 for 7 nights

Book with holidaycottages.co.uk

What’s Nearby?

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