Sycamore Cottage, Falling Foss

Sycamore Cottage sits in the woods at Sneaton, a few miles inland from Whitby, and its appeal to a dog owner is what lies outside the door. The Falling Foss waterfall is about five minutes' walk away and a network of woodland trails runs straight from the property, so this is a walking base first and a cottage second. That suits most dogs very well.

Guests travelling with dogs are consistent about the walking. The cottage is described as warm, clean and comfortable, the location as remote in the best sense, and the surrounding woodland as the reason to come back. Dogs are taken without fuss, and the practicalities of easy access and parking at the door come up as often as the scenery.

Two things are worth knowing before you book. There is no enclosed garden, so a dog that cannot be trusted loose goes straight onto a lead outside the door; guests have raised the lack of secure outdoor space directly. The soft furnishings have also drawn a cleanliness complaint, with dog hair from previous stays found on the cloth sofa underneath the throws, so it is reasonable to look under them on arrival and to bring your own throw if your dog goes on the furniture.

The setting cuts both ways in other respects too. It is very dark outside at night with no street lighting, so a torch earns its place for the last trip out, and the mobile and WiFi signal is poor. The heating has been reported as running hot with little control over it, which matters more with a thick-coated dog in the room.

Best suited to walkers with a dog who want woodland and a waterfall on the doorstep, and who do not need a secure garden or a reliable signal. It earns a 4.4/5 paw rating.