Orchard Cottage, Hackness

Orchard Cottage is a stone cottage in the countryside near Hackness, inland from Scarborough on the edge of the North York Moors, and its appeal for dog owners is mostly about what surrounds it. The setting is quiet and rural, the grounds are part of the stay rather than just a view, and there is a private garden area attached to the cottage, so a dog can be let out without a walk having to be organised first. The estate also lists an amenity field among its facilities for dogs, which gives one somewhere to stretch out beyond the garden.

The welcome for dogs is a practical one. Guests arriving with a dog have found a towel, a bed and treats waiting for them, which suggests the owners have thought about what a dog actually needs on arrival rather than simply permitting one. The human welcome runs along the same lines, with a well-stocked basket on arrival mentioned repeatedly and the hosts described as helpful and easy to deal with.

The cottage reviews very strongly overall at 9.8/10, with the condition of the property and the peace of the location standing out. It is spacious, warm and well equipped, and there are pubs serving proper food within a short drive, which is worth knowing given how little else is within walking distance.

That isolation is the main thing to plan around. This is a rural cottage reached by car, in a valley of scattered farms and woodland rather than a village with a shop on the corner, so stock up before you arrive. The flip side is the walking: the moors, the Forge Valley woods and the Scarborough coast are all close enough for a different route each day.

The estate's terms are straightforward. Dogs are welcome in every cottage on the estate, at a charge of 20 pounds per dog for the stay, and dogs are the only pets accepted. How many are allowed varies from cottage to cottage, so ask before booking if you want to bring more than one, and note that a dog must not be left unattended in the cottage at any point. One guest review describes a stay here with a dog in real detail and it is a wholly positive one, which puts the paw rating at 4.5/5, a good sign from a small sample. Best suited to owners of dogs who enjoy long, muddy countryside walks and a quiet evening in afterwards.