The Keep at Castlegate, Cragg Vale

The Keep at Castlegate is a striking detached place in the Cragg Vale valley, a few minutes' drive from Hebden Bridge, and its appeal for dog owners is almost entirely about what is outside the door. Big windows frame the valley, you can hear the waterfall from inside, and deer turn up in the field on early mornings. The walking straight from the property is the real draw, and guests with dogs consistently name it as the reason to book.

Dogs are welcomed without fuss, and the host leaves a useful arrival stock of cereals, milk, juice, tea and coffee along with the occasional treat. Communication before and during a stay gets good marks. No pet charge is disclosed in the listing, so it is worth confirming the pet terms when you book.

The layout is where dog owners need to pay attention, because two things come up repeatedly. There is no garden as such, so letting the dog out means a short trip down the lane on a lead rather than opening a back door, which is fine in daylight and less appealing at eleven at night in Calderdale rain. And the stairs to the lower floor are closer to a ladder than a staircase. Owners of older, smaller or less agile dogs have found them genuinely unsafe, with some blocking the top off themselves for the duration, and no safety gate is fitted. The same stairs make the lower rooms awkward for anyone with mobility issues.

Damp and warmth also come up. With the underfloor heating disconnected on the lower levels, autumn and winter stays have felt cold and damp downstairs, so pack accordingly.

Cragg Vale itself is well set up, with a pub over the road that does good food, a farm shop and cafe nearby, and Hebden Bridge a short drive away for everything else.

For a fit dog and owners who want dramatic scenery and walking from the doorstep, The Keep earns a 4.6/5 paw rating. Older dogs and those wary of steep stairs are better served elsewhere.