East Lane Barn, Newbiggin-in-Bishopdale

East Lane Barn is a converted stone longhouse at Newbiggin-in-Bishopdale, a hamlet of a few houses in one of the quieter side dales of the Yorkshire Dales, and it has the two things that actually make a self-catering cottage work with dogs: hard floors and open country on the doorstep. Guests travelling with dogs point to the tiled kitchen and conservatory as the places a wet or muddy dog can be settled without anyone thinking about carpets.

Up to two dogs are accepted and a charge applies, set at the time of booking. The barn sleeps four in two bedrooms, and there is a rear enclosed courtyard garden with a patio, which is useful for letting a dog out last thing at night without being a substitute for a secure garden.

What guests describe is a properly rural stay. The barn looks over meadow on both sides and the feedback dwells on curlews, oystercatchers and the resident partridges as much as on the cottage itself. The Streethead Inn is around five minutes by car for dinner, and West Burton, a couple of miles down the dale, has a waterfall where dogs can swim - the detail that comes up most often from people who have stayed here with them.

The caveats are small and practical. The barn is stone and can feel cold, so the multi-fuel burner earns its keep outside high summer, and guests have suggested the upstairs shower could do with a squeegee. The garden was newly planted at the time of the most recent stays, so it is likely further along now than the photographs suggest.

This suits two people or a small family with a dog or two who want walking, birdsong and a fire rather than anything to do in the evening. Aysgarth Falls, Leyburn and the Wensleydale villages are all a short drive away.