Dove Cottage, Knaresborough

Dove Cottage is a small, modern cottage in the middle of Knaresborough, a couple of minutes' walk from the high street, and dogs are welcome in it. It earns a 4.5 out of 5 paw rating from guests who brought a dog, and the appeal is obvious for anyone who would rather walk into a market town with their dog than drive to it.

Inside it is warm, clean and comfortable, with the sort of touches that make a two-night stay feel looked after: milk, tea, coffee and biscuits waiting on arrival. Couples travelling with a dog have found it perfectly sized. The position is the strongest thing about it, with the shops, pubs and restaurants of Knaresborough all within walking distance, the train station a short walk away for links to York, Leeds and Harrogate, and the river and castle grounds close enough for a first-thing outing.

It is not the right cottage for every dog, and that deserves saying plainly. There is no outside space at all, and the cottage is reached down a narrow alley with the door at the rear, so every toilet trip is a walk out onto the street. The stairs up to the bedroom are steep and enclosed, which is awkward for an older dog, a very large one, or anyone who would normally carry a small dog up. There is traffic noise from around six in the morning, and parking is in a shared area across the road, so getting back to the car with a dog means crossing it. Some dog owners have weighed all that up and left their dogs at home for the trip.

It suits a couple with one small, steady, town-confident dog who want to walk into a market town from the front door, and who do not need a garden or a quiet lie-in.