Saints' Meadow, Crich

Saints' Meadow is a small collection of cabins and huts set in a meadow on the edge of Crich, in the Derbyshire hills, and it has been put together by someone who clearly thought about dogs from the start. Dog blankets are provided, there is a field for dogs to play in, and the huts are stocked to the point where bedding, towels and washing-up kit are all included - guests with dogs report arriving with clothes, food and the dog, and nothing else.

The arrangement around the meadow is the detail worth understanding. Dogs need to be on the lead in the shared meadow, but there are two enclosed areas alongside it where they can run off-lead, so the site manages to be communal and practical at the same time. Dogs have stayed in the huts and cabins as well as the larger lodge, so it is worth confirming that the particular unit you are booking takes them. Guests have noted that the lead rule is not always observed by everyone staying, which is worth bearing in mind if your dog is reactive to other dogs.

Crich village is walkable, as is the climb up to the tramway museum, which guests with dogs single out as a genuinely dog-friendly day out rather than a grudging one. There is a chip shop within easy reach, the views from the verandas are the reason most people book, and pathway lighting and outdoor fairy lights make the site easy to move around after dark.

Two caveats recur. The verandas have no gate, so a dog sitting out with you is not enclosed - it is the single most common request the site attracts from dog owners. And the cabins differ in their setting: the one nearest the neighbouring retreat car park picks up arrivals at various hours, so it is worth asking which unit you are being allocated. There is no television and no microwave, which is either the point or a problem depending on the trip.

Best suited to couples and small families with a dog who want somewhere quiet, well-equipped and outdoors-first, and who do not mind a shared site with a lead rule. It earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.