Hollins Farm Lodges, Arkendale

Hollins Farm sits in open North Yorkshire farmland outside Arkendale, and there are only two lodges on the site, which is most of the appeal for anyone arriving with a dog. Each has its own decking and a fenced patch of garden, the views run west over fields, and there is no shared corridor, reception or neighbouring room to negotiate. Guests travelling with dogs describe it as somewhere the dog is simply part of the trip rather than something to manage.

The welcome is a large part of why it rates so well. Blankets, towels and bowls are left out for dogs alongside a pack of fresh eggs, tea and biscuits for their humans, and the lodges themselves are consistently described as spotless and thoughtfully kitted out. One firm rule is worth knowing before you book: dogs cannot be left in the lodge on their own at any point. For most people that is fine, but anyone planning full days out in York or Harrogate needs to build the dog into the plan, because it has caught guests out mid-trip.

The fencing is the other thing to check. It does the job for most dogs, but at least one small escape artist found the gaps, so the enclosed area here is enclosed enough to relax rather than fully dog-proof. The car park also sits a short walk from the lodges, which means a trolley run with luggage rather than pulling up at the door.

For walking, the setting delivers. Bridleways and field paths run straight from the site, and the Bluebell Inn is roughly a twenty to thirty minute walk across fields, which is lovely in summer and properly muddy after rain. Knaresborough, Harrogate and York are all short drives. Earning a 4.6/5 paw rating, Hollins Farm suits owners bringing one well-behaved dog who want quiet, private, well-finished self-catering with walking on the doorstep, and who are happy to shape their days around the dog rather than leaving it behind.