1 / 21Wheelhouse Cottage
Cartmel, Cumbria
A two bedroom cottage for four beside the river at Cartmel with a walled garden, a heated garden pod and a private bank across an iron footbridge, two dogs welcome.
Two dogs, four people, and a stretch of river bank that belongs to the cottage. Dog friendly usually means a fence; here it also means a bridge and a key. Wheelhouse Cottage stands beside the Ea at Cartmel, by the bridge it is named after, the garden behind it walled, and a small padlocked iron footbridge going over from that garden to a private bank on the far side.
The front door opens into a hall that steps down into the living rooms, the first sign that the cottage grew rather than got designed. The lounge has beams, rugs and a wood burner. The kitchen is light and gives onto the walled garden, and the conservatory beyond holds the dining table with the water past the window. Underfloor heating runs the length of the ground floor, so a wet dog dries where it lies.
Both bedrooms are kings and one bathroom serves them, which settles who this is for: two couples who know each other well, or a family whose children have grown. The real argument is outside. A heated pod in the walled garden with a fridge in it and a fire bowl beside it means the evening happens out there in any month, two dogs stretched between the table and the warm end.
Cartmel is a village built round a priory that outlasted the abbey it belonged to, with a market square and a racecourse that holds meetings twice a year and is grazing the rest of the time. All of it is a few minutes on foot. Beyond it the low limestone country between the Kent and the Leven is lanes, woods and field paths, and dogs get most of it without a stile.
Book your stay
from £967 for 7 nights
Wheelhouse Cottage takes 2 dogs and is booked through holidaycottages.co.uk.
Book with holidaycottages.co.ukPrices 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
- The kitchen is light and airy with a door leading out to the walled garden, while the conservatory is home to the dining area with riverside views
- Sleeps
- 4 guests
- Rooms
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Price
- from £967 / 7 nights
- Grading
- 4 star
- Arrival
- in from 16:00, out by 10:00
- Facilities
- Games, Open fire, Wifi
Wheelhouse Cottage from £967 for 7 nights
Book with holidaycottages.co.ukFrequently Asked Questions
Is Wheelhouse Cottage dog friendly?
Yes, and genuinely so — up to two dogs are welcome. The cottage sits beside the River Ea with a walled garden, and a padlocked iron footbridge leads from that garden to a private bank on the far side, giving your dogs somewhere to roam that's entirely their own. The ground floor also has underfloor heating throughout, so a wet dog can dry off comfortably wherever it settles.
Are dogs allowed at Wheelhouse Cottage year round?
Yes. The heated garden pod with a fire bowl beside it means evenings outside are genuinely comfortable whatever the month, and the surrounding limestone countryside of lanes, woods and field paths is walkable year round. Cartmel itself and the low country between the Kent and the Leven rivers are accessible on foot from the cottage, with dogs welcome on most of it.
What should I know before visiting Wheelhouse Cottage with my dog?
The cottage accommodates up to two dogs, so it's worth confirming that before booking if you're travelling with more. The walled garden is enclosed, and the private river bank is accessed via a padlocked footbridge — you'll be given a key, so it's worth keeping track of it. Beyond the cottage, the local footpaths are described as largely stile-free, which makes them well suited to dogs of most sizes and ages.
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Wheelhouse Cottage from £967 for 7 nights
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