Corehouse Farm Cottages, Lanark

Corehouse Farm Cottages sit on a working farm above the Clyde gorge, about ten minutes' drive from Lanark, with three converted stone cottages sharing a courtyard. The appeal for dog owners is what surrounds them rather than what is inside: a path through the fields opposite drops down to the Falls of Clyde in roughly ten minutes, and quiet farm tracks and country lanes run in every direction. Dogs stay at no extra charge, which owners bringing two or three notice straight away.

The cottages themselves are simple, warm and clean, with hard floors that make sense after a wet walk. The hosts are the other thing owners mention repeatedly: a farming family who are relaxed about dogs and happy to point you at the best route out. Being on a real farm is part of the stay, with horses at the livery yard, sheep in the fields and lambs in spring.

The important caveat is that there is no private enclosed garden. Outdoor space is the shared courtyard and the working farm beyond it, which means a dog is on the lead from the front door and a nervous or reactive dog has nowhere of its own to decompress. Owners who booked expecting a fenced garden have said so plainly. The farm setting brings noise too, from machinery, livestock and other guests' dogs audible through the party walls at night, and the yard is unlit, so a torch is essential for the last walk of the evening. Cleanliness is generally good but not flawless; dog hair left on the soft furnishings has come up in feedback, so it is worth a look over the sofas on arrival if anyone in your party is sensitive.

Pet terms are not published on the property's booking listing, so confirm the number of dogs when you book. Corehouse suits an easy-going dog who is happy on a lead around livestock and wants long, quiet countryside walking from the door. It is the wrong choice if you need a secure garden to let a dog out into on its own. On that basis it earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.