Ball Hall Farm by Wigwam Holidays

Ball Hall Farm is a small cluster of glamping pods on a working farm at East Cottingwith, in the flat, quiet countryside between York and the Yorkshire Wolds. The pods look over a lake with resident ducks, the setting is described in review after review as peaceful to the point of restorative, and dogs slot into it easily: solo travellers, couples and their dogs all report relaxed stays, with farmland walks from the gate and York, Pocklington and the Wolds an easy drive away.

The pods draw exceptional scores for cleanliness, with spotless and immaculate the recurring words from dog owners as much as anyone, and they come properly equipped down to fire pits with logs available for evenings outside. The hosts are described as friendly and easy to deal with, and check-in is simple.

Two practical points shape a stay with a dog, both raised by guests who brought one. Dogs are asked to stay on leads for walks around the site, sensible on a working farm with a lake full of wildfowl. And the pod verandas have ramps but no gate, so there is no way to leave a dog securely outside the door: more than one reviewer suggests a gate would be a worthwhile addition, and until then the dog is either inside the pod or on the lead. Neither point dented the scores, but they are worth knowing before you book a dog that lives for off-lead time.

This is a place for switching off rather than being entertained. Reviews note the wi-fi is patchy and there are no amenities within walking distance, and treat both as features. Best suited to calm, lead-happy dogs and owners after quiet walks, fire-pit evenings and a base for York days out; an accessible, fully step-free cabin praised in reviews also makes this a rare glamping option for mixed-mobility parties travelling with a dog.