Hill Farm, Nantwich

Hill Farm is a spacious farmhouse in open Cheshire countryside on the Whitchurch Road at Broomhall, a few miles south of Nantwich, and it takes dogs. It works best for a group that wants room, a rural setting and an open fire, with one important caveat: the outdoor space is not secure. That caveat is why it sits at 4.4 out of 5 rather than higher.

The house itself is the strong part. It is well equipped and comfortable, warm on arrival, with a games room and plenty of space for a larger party, and the setting is genuinely peaceful, a working farm with fields on every side. It makes a workable base for exploring Cheshire, with Chester a longer run than the map suggests.

The garden is where dog owners need to pay attention. More than one party travelling with dogs has reported that it is neither enclosed nor dog-proof, so a dog without reliable recall cannot be turned out there. If your routine depends on opening a door and letting the dog into a safe garden, this is not the property for it, and it is comfortably the most common complaint from guests who brought dogs. The neighbouring half of the building also has dogs and their mess has been found on the shared grass, with no poo bags supplied, so pack your own and give the grass a check before letting a dog or a small child loose on it.

Two other things to know. Arrival is confusing, because the property is semi-detached and the front door sits behind the neighbouring house with no sign, which is awkward in the dark. And the smell of oil from the boiler comes up often enough in reviews to expect it rather than be surprised by it.

It suits a group or family with a steady, well-recalled dog who want space, an open fire and a quiet Cheshire base, and who are content to walk the dog on a lead from the door rather than turn it out into a secure garden.