Middlecroft, Chesterfield

Middlecroft is a self-catering flat in Staveley, on the eastern edge of Chesterfield, and it is best understood as a practical dog-friendly base rather than a destination in itself. It is a few minutes from the M1, walking distance from a supermarket and local shops, and under half an hour's drive from the eastern edge of the Peak District, which is what most people arriving with a dog are here for.

Dogs are straightforwardly welcome and the owner is easy to deal with about them. Guests travelling with dogs describe the arrangements as unfussy, and more than one brought two. The flat has its own entrance and parking, so there is no shared lobby or lift to negotiate, and there are walks and green space within reach on foot. For visiting family in the area, or breaking a longer drive, it does the job cheaply.

The limitation dog owners raise most is that there is no garden and no secure outdoor area at all. There is nowhere fenced to let a dog out last thing at night, and nowhere to sit outside with one, so every trip out is a lead-on walk from the front door. For a settled adult dog that is a non-issue; for a puppy, or a dog that needs a safe patch of its own, it is a real drawback.

The other honest note is that the flat divides opinion. Most guests find it clean, warm and comfortable, but reports of tired mattresses, a bathroom that needed more attention, and occasional noise, both music from the flat above and a dog barking nearby late into the evening, turn up often enough to be worth knowing at this price. No pet fee or dog limit is published, so confirm both when booking. Best suited to a couple or small family with one or two easy-going dogs who need a low-cost, no-nonsense base near the M1 and the Peak District fringe.