Barker Stakes Farm

Barker Stakes Farm is a working farm on Lendales Lane outside Pickering, with lodges, pods and rooms scattered across the site and paddocks of goats, pigs and chickens between them. For dogs it is close to ideal: a large grassed area to wander, walking straight off the site, and Dalby Forest a short drive away, so exercise is never the problem.

The pet rules are worth reading before you choose a unit, because they are unit-specific rather than site-wide. Up to two pets can stay, but not in every property. Guests who booked with dogs have also found that the pet-friendly cottage is not one of the units with a hot tub, which catches people who assumed the two came together, so check which unit you are being given rather than booking on the overall listing.

What people notice once they arrive is the atmosphere. The couple who run the farm are approachable in a way that makes a real difference on a farm stay, handing over eggs and pointing guests at walks, and the animals give dogs and children alike something to do. Dog owners describe the site as quiet and easy, with ample parking and simple access.

Because it is a farm, livestock is part of the picture, so a dog that is unreliable around animals will need managing. Pickering town centre is about half an hour's walk down a country lane, which is pleasant on a dry evening and less so otherwise.

The accommodation is comfortable rather than luxurious. Beds have been described as hard, one bathroom as tired, and the wifi as weak, and the outside of at least one lodge could do with repainting compared with its neighbours.

Barker Stakes Farm earns a 4.5/5 paw rating. It suits dog owners who want a rural North Yorkshire base with space and animals, and who are happy to check which unit takes pets before they book.