Fairfield House, Castle Carrock

Fairfield House is a whole house to yourself in Castle Carrock, a quiet village on the western edge of the North Pennines a few miles south of Brampton. Having the entire property means no shared corridors and no other guests to negotiate, which is half the battle solved before a dog has even arrived, and the large enclosed garden off the kitchen is what dog owners talk about most.

That garden comes with an honest qualification. It is a good size and doors open straight onto it from the kitchen, but the wall at the top of the bank is low, and a neighbouring dog has got in over it. Treat it as a garden that saves you a lead rather than a secure run, and supervise a dog inclined to explore. Guests have also arrived to find dog mess left in the garden by previous visitors' dogs, which is a housekeeping issue rather than a policy one, but an unwelcome one to meet on arrival.

The village does the rest of the work. The Duke of Cumberland sits directly across the road, welcomes dogs and serves food that guests rate highly, so an evening out is a thirty-second walk. Talkin Tarn and the reservoir are both within easy walking range, and this is quiet country with birdlife and space rather than traffic. There is off-street parking, and a log burner makes it a plausible winter stay as well as a summer one.

The house is beautifully decorated and clean inside, though guests note it is starting to look tired in places, with flaking paint and a weedy patio, minimal outdoor furniture, and WiFi that is effectively absent. With a 4.6/5 paw rating, it suits dog owners who want a whole house, a garden and a dog-friendly pub across the road, and who will not miss the internet for a few days.