Mirehouse & Gardens

Mirehouse & Gardens is a historic house and gardens near Cockermouth, set in sweeping grounds close to Bassenthwaite Lake. Dogs are welcome throughout the grounds on a short lead, making it a proper Lake District heritage day out where your four-legged companion stays with you. The playgrounds are off-limits and dogs aren't allowed in the house itself, but the gardens and surrounding estate offer plenty of space for a gentle wander between woodland paths, open lawns and seasonal borders.

The grounds open daily from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm until 31 October 2026, so you can visit most days without needing to book ahead. The house opens on more limited days—Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, plus Sundays in August—but the real draw for dog owners is the freedom to explore the gardens together. Parking and toilets are at the Dodd Wood Pay on Exit car park opposite the main entrance.

It's a relaxed choice for a longer heritage visit, especially if you're touring the northern Lakes and want something beyond a woodland loop. Short leads are required throughout and there's farmland nearby, so livestock awareness matters.