Gorgeous 3 bed house in Matlock + Garden 'lookout'

Matlock puts a lot of dog-friendly ground within easy reach, and this three-bedroom house on Smedley Street sits close enough to walk into town and high enough up the hill for the valley views the garden lookout was built for. It is a whole house rather than a room in one, so there are no shared corridors to negotiate and no reception to walk a dog past, and dogs tend to settle into it much the way they would at home.

The property is set up for dogs in practical ways. Guests travelling with pets regularly mention arriving to dog treats, and the owners are quick with things like extra towels for muddy paws and straight answers to questions before arrival. The house itself is spacious and well equipped, with a big kitchen range that makes cooking for a group easy, and it is an easy place to clean up in after a wet walk.

The garden is where expectations need setting. It is shared with the house next door, so dogs have to stay on the lead out there, and while there is a fenced-off section that several guests found useful, it is not a secure space for a proper off-lead run. More significantly, the neighbours have made their feelings about dogs plain: guests describe a sign warning about keeping dogs leashed, and on more than one stay, blunt and unfriendly exchanges over it. Ratings have stayed high regardless, but it is the one thing dog owners should weigh before booking.

Beyond the gate the walking is excellent. The town, the trails above Matlock Bath and the wider Derbyshire Dales are all close, and dog-friendly pubs and cafes are easy to find throughout Matlock. Parking is on-street and can fill up, so arriving early helps. Best suited to families and groups whose dogs are relaxed on the lead in a shared outdoor space, and who plan to spend their days out walking rather than sitting in the garden. It earns a 4.4/5 paw rating.