Russet, Lucker

Russet is a stone holiday cottage on Apple Inn Row in Lucker, a small Northumberland village between Belford and the coast, and its biggest asset for dog owners is what it sits next to. The Apple Inn is immediately next door and welcomes dogs, so an evening meal does not mean leaving anyone shut in the cottage. Bamburgh Castle, the coastal beaches and Alnwick are all short drives, and the stay includes passes for a spa a few minutes' walk away.

The property takes up to two dogs, small to medium in size, for a fee of twenty pounds per dog per stay. That is a one-off charge rather than a nightly one, so a longer stay does not multiply it. Arrivals are met with a welcome box, and dog owners regularly mention that theirs included treats for the dog as well. Inside there is a log burner, a well-equipped kitchen and a washer and dryer, which is exactly the kit that matters once a dog has found the North Sea.

There are gardens front and rear. The front one is enclosed and pleasant to sit in; the rear is more functional, and the gate leading to it has been reported as having no lock, so it can end up standing open. Anyone with a dog inclined to wander should check it on arrival rather than assume the back is secure.

Two other caveats come up. The pub next door takes deliveries early, sometimes between 5.15am and 5.45am, and the noise has been enough to set dogs off at the back of the cottage. And while the cottage is generally described as very clean and well maintained, dog hair has turned up in the main bedroom on at least one changeover, which is worth knowing if anyone in the party reacts to it.

Best suited to dog owners touring the Northumberland coast who want a comfortable base with a dog-friendly pub next door and a pet fee that does not climb with every night. It earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.