Cow Kennels at Brecks Farm, York

Cow Kennels is one of the converted farm buildings at Brecks Farm, a few miles north of York at Wigginton, and it is the kind of self-catering barn conversion that suits dogs almost by accident of its layout. The whole house is yours, so there are no shared corridors or lifts to negotiate, and the enclosed garden - it looks out over a duck pond - gives a dog somewhere to stretch its legs first thing, though the owners ask for a lead any time you are outside the cottage. Parking sits directly outside the door, which makes unloading a car full of beds, bowls and a muddy walking coat far easier than it is at a town-centre property.

The property publishes its dog terms now, and they are worth reading before you book: up to two dogs, welcome by prior arrangement only. That last part matters - book the dog in at the same time as the house rather than mentioning it on arrival. No weight limit or restricted breed is named, though extra cleaning or damage after a dog's stay is chargeable, and nothing is published about a standard pet fee, so confirm that too. What guests do report is that the welcome is a genuine one and that the owners are quick and helpful over messages in the days before arrival.

Inside, the standard is high: big, comfortable beds, well-equipped bathrooms and a woodburner that arrives with logs, kindling and firelighters ready to go. Hard farmhouse finishes and a door straight out to the garden make wet paws less of a worry than they would be in a carpeted holiday flat. Dogs are asked to stay in the kitchen and living areas and off the beds, which is easy enough in a house laid out like this one. The owners have also been willing to put out extra equipment for guests who need it, which suggests a flexible approach to requests generally.

The setting is the main draw for walkers, with one caveat: this is a working farm, so there are sheep, horses and other animals about, and dogs are asked to stay out of any field with stock in it. The pond and wildlife area are open to you on a lead. Wigginton sits on the edge of open country on the northern side of York, so the city is a short run in, and the Yorkshire coast and the North York Moors are both comfortable day trips.

Two things to weigh. Feedback from dog owners is still limited here, so treat the welcome as promising rather than proven and check the details directly. And a house this size is priced for a group - a couple with one dog would be renting more space than they need. For a family or a group of friends who want a smart, self-contained base with a garden and York on the doorstep, Cow Kennels is a strong choice.