The Cottage, Leyburn

The Cottage sits a two-minute walk from Leyburn's market square, which makes it one of the easier Dales bases to manage with a dog: you can walk into the village for the pub or the shops without getting back in the car, and footpaths onto the moors above Wensleydale start close by. It is a whole cottage to yourselves, sleeping four, with a log burner, a well-equipped kitchen and off-street parking for one car.

The dog welcome is a properly thought-out one. Guests arriving with a dog find a towel, a bed, a bowl and treats waiting alongside the usual courtesy tray, and the garden is enclosed, so the dog can go out without a lead for once. The patio is kept clear, and dog owners consistently describe the place as one where dogs are expected rather than merely permitted.

Inside, the standard is high: character features with modern fittings, comfortable beds, linen and towels provided, and a cottage that stays warm in winter. The location does most of the work for a dog holiday, with shops, pubs and restaurants all within an easy walk and the Dales a short drive.

Two things to plan for. The sofa throws have come up as carrying dog hair from earlier stays, so a dog-owning household will want to shake them out on arrival rather than assume they have been changed. The back garden also gets slippery when wet, which is worth knowing with an excitable dog or in winter. The owner is helpful but not always quick to answer questions before arrival, so allow time if you need to check something.

With a 4.7/5 paw rating, The Cottage suits dog owners who want a walkable Dales village base with an enclosed garden and a genuine welcome, rather than a large property with grounds.