Nala Lodge, Knaresborough

Nala Lodge is a static caravan on Lido Leisure Park, a quiet riverside site a couple of miles outside Knaresborough, and it is set up for dogs rather than merely tolerating them. Guests travelling with dogs arrive to find a dedicated dog box waiting - blankets, bowls and a jar of treats - alongside the welcome basket, and the owners are easy to reach and quick to answer questions.

The setting does most of the work. The park sits on the banks of the River Nidd, with a large field for exercise and a footpath running along the water straight from the lodge, so the first walk of the day needs no car. There is a children's play area on site too, which makes it a workable choice for families bringing both. A bus stop outside the park entrance runs into Knaresborough in a few minutes, and the walk into town takes around twenty.

Two things are worth knowing before booking. The lodge is carpeted throughout and no vacuum or brush is provided, which becomes a real problem after wet-weather walks; guests staying in muddy winter conditions have found there is no practical way to clean up after a dog. The dog kit is not always as clean as it should be either - blankets in the dog box have been found dirty and smelling, and dog hair has been left on bed linen between changeovers. Neither is a reason to rule the place out, but both are worth raising with the owners when you book.

No pet fee, weight limit or dog count is published on the property's booking listing, so confirm those directly before you travel. At a 4.4/5 paw rating, Nala Lodge suits dog owners who want river walks from the doorstep and a well-equipped base near Knaresborough, and who will not mind packing their own brush and towels.