Dove Cottage, Brampton

Dove Cottage is a one-bedroom barn conversion in a small courtyard of holiday cottages on a working farm outside Brampton, in the north Cumbrian countryside between Carlisle and the Northumberland border. It is a quiet, unfussy base rather than a grand one, and for dog owners its best feature is the thing that turns up in almost every review: a large, fully enclosed garden.

Guests travelling with dogs are unusually consistent about what works here. The garden is south-facing, big enough to sit out in and secure enough to let a dog off the lead without watching the gate. Parking is right outside the door and away from the road, so dogs can come out of the car safely on arrival. Inside, the flooring is practical rather than precious, and guests report that you would not know other dogs had stayed. The owners live on site and come across as welcoming to dogs as well as to people.

The walking is the other draw. Gelt Woods, Talkin Tarn and Miltonrigg Woods are all a few minutes' drive, Hadrian's Wall is easy to reach, and Brampton is about five minutes away and covers what a week of self-catering needs. Carlisle and the northern Lake District are inside half an hour. Dog-friendly pubs and cafes nearby come up regularly in reviews.

The cottage is cosy rather than large: one bedroom, a wood burner laid ready, and a kitchen guests find genuinely well stocked. Not everything is polished. The patio doors have repeatedly been reported as awkward to close and lock, lighting in the living space is limited to a single overhead fitting, the wifi is unreliable, and a neighbouring cottage's hot tub sits close enough to the bedroom window to be heard on a warm evening. A small number of guests found the place basic for the price.

Best suited to owners of one or two dogs who want a secure garden, good walking within a short drive and a quiet week in the country, and who will not miss a large or luxurious interior.