One Dorchester Drive, Goosnargh

One Dorchester Drive is a three-bedroom cottage in the Cross Keys Inn cottage group near Goosnargh, in the countryside north of Preston, and for most dog owners it makes a relaxed rural base. The lounge and kitchen open onto an enclosed garden with views across Lancashire, the Cross Keys pub and restaurant is only a few steps from the front door and welcomes dogs, and Beacon Fell Country Park is about five minutes away by car. It carries a 4.4/5 paw rating.

Dogs are made welcome on arrival, with bowls, a dog bed and a bag of treats left out, and guests with everything from a young puppy to two dogs have enjoyed the garden. The pub staff get consistently warm mentions, the food is reasonably priced, and repeat visitors are common.

The setting is quiet and fairly remote, which suits people who want to walk. There are short walks from the door, longer routes at Beacon Fell, and Preston and Garstang are each around 20 minutes' drive, with the coast at Blackpool within reach for a day out.

There are more caveats here than at most cottages, and dog owners should read them. The garden fence is not high enough to hold a dog much bigger than a terrier, and there is a gap under it that a very small dog could squeeze through. House rules ask that dogs stay off the furniture and out of the bedrooms, and some guests only found this out on arrival. A couple of stays were spoiled by a sewage smell outside, damp in the bathroom with visible water damage, and a kitchen that smelled of wet dog, and the cottage is described as a bit tired in places. There is no washing machine, and basics such as tea, coffee and salt are not always provided.

For owners of small or well-behaved dogs who want a quiet countryside stay with a dog-friendly pub on the doorstep, it works well. Owners of larger or more adventurous dogs should think about the fence before booking.