Carrick Cottage, Mourne Mountains

Carrick Cottage sits on Head Road above Annalong, right at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, and the location is the whole reason to come. Hikes start more or less from the gate, the views run down to the County Down coast, and there is an open fire inside with logs provided and a wood-fired hot tub outside. Dogs are welcome and guests report small extras left out for them.

Two things about this cottage matter more than anything else if you are bringing a dog, and both come up repeatedly. The garden is not securely fenced. Several guests have said it needs enclosing before a dog could be let out loose, and there are sheep in the adjoining field, close enough that one visitor kept their dog on a lead whenever they were outside the cottage. Treat the outside space as unfenced and plan around it.

The second is the bathroom, which is in an outbuilding rather than inside the cottage. It is functional but basic, and putting on a coat and boots to use it at night is not to everyone's taste. It is stated on the listing, but it still surprises people, so it is worth registering before you book.

Beyond that the cottage is old, cosy and well heated, the bed and living area get consistently good marks, and the arrival instructions and key box make a late check-in easy. The hot tub takes three to four hours to heat from cold, so light it as soon as you arrive. Mobile signal is poor, sat navs do not always find the lane, and the building was previously a cafe, so a little of that fit-out is still around. There has also been a report of damp on the walls.

Best suited to walkers with a lead-trained dog who want a genuinely remote Mournes base and are relaxed about an outdoor bathroom. It earns a 4.3/5 paw rating.