Orchard Barn, Mansfield

Orchard Barn is a high-specification conversion in the grounds of a working farm and stables, tucked into a quiet valley on the edge of Mansfield between the villages of Skegby, Pleasley and Teversal. It is an unusually comfortable place to bring a dog. The bedrooms are on the lower floor with direct garden access from one of them, so letting a dog out first thing does not involve a trek, and the living space sits above with a Juliet balcony looking over open countryside.

Dogs are part of the plan here rather than an afterthought, and larger dogs are taken as readily as small ones. Guests arriving with dogs describe a warm, low-key welcome from owners who are on site but deliberately unobtrusive. The walking is the real draw: footpaths run out into the valley, and Sherwood Forest, Clumber Park and the edge of the Peak District are all within a short drive.

Inside, the fit-out is a cut above the usual barn conversion, with two en-suite bedrooms, a hot tub and finishing that guests repeatedly single out. Small welcomes such as fresh eggs from the farm turn up in a lot of write-ups.

The outside space is where opinions genuinely split, and it is the thing to check before booking if you have a dog that cannot be trusted loose. Some guests describe an enclosed area they were happy to let their pets use; others found the boundaries open, with unfenced edges and building material about, and wished the garden were properly contained. If your dog needs a secure garden rather than a lead, ask the owners exactly what is fenced. The lane is easy to drive straight past, too, and some guests found the lack of blinds at the kitchen and upstairs windows left the barn more overlooked from the farmhouse than they had expected.

Best suited to couples or a small family with a dog that walks well on a lead and will be out on the valley footpaths daily, rather than one that needs to be let loose in a sealed garden. It earns a 4.7/5 paw rating.