The Coniston Inn

Two miles on a gravelled all-ability path right round the tarn, fifty minutes at a stroll and the flattest famous view in the Lakes. The National Trust car park is the only sensible start; it is paid, it holds around 130 cars and it is full by half past ten on any fine day, with a mobility vehicle available in summer for those who need it. The surface suits old and short-legged dogs, the tarn has several easy shingle entries for a swim, but Belted Galloways and Herdwicks graze the surrounding enclosures and the path is shared with pushchairs and wheelchairs the whole way, so this is a lead walk from car park to car park.

John Ruskin's house on the east shore of Coniston Water, reached by the narrow lane round the head of the lake or by the Coniston Launch from the village. Its visitor page states that dogs are welcome on a lead in the gardens and in the Terrace Cafe, which is the practical point: the eight gardens run to 250 acres of hillside with woodland trails above and level paths below, and the cafe looks straight across the water to the Old Man. The house itself is not covered by that welcome. Parking is free for visitors and the cafe is open 10am to 4pm daily.

Four miles and an hour and three quarters, near-level all the way: out of Coniston past the old hall and along the north-eastern shore of the lake, returning by the pastures behind the jetty and the Bluebird Cafe at the boating centre. It starts in Coniston village and the main car park on Ruskin Avenue is the place to aim for, paid but rarely full before midday outside August. The shore is the draw for dogs - long shallow shingle beaches with no boat wash away from the jetty, drinking bowls put out at the boating centre cafe - though the fields behind Coniston Hall are grazed and there are two kissing gates that a very large dog will need coaxing through.