The Mews Apartment, Brampton

The Mews Apartment is a converted period property in the middle of Brampton, and for a dog owner its main appeal is that everything is on foot. Shops, pubs and the market square are a couple of minutes from the door, and there are walks running straight out of the town centre, so the first outing of the day does not need a car.

The property is clear about one thing: one dog only. No fee, weight or breed terms have been published beyond that, so confirm what a dog adds to the booking when you reserve.

The apartment sleeps four and is set up properly for self-catering, with a well equipped kitchen and enough laid on for a longer stay. What guests mention most often is how clean it is and how much thought has gone into the decoration, which reads as a restored historic building rather than a rental unit. The hosts leave a small arrival hamper, keep in touch clearly before and during a stay, and have a track record of turning up quickly when something goes wrong.

Brampton is a sensible base rather than a destination in itself. Carlisle is a short drive, and the central sections of Hadrian's Wall, with their long stretches of open walking, are close enough for a full day out with a dog.

Two caveats. Guests with dogs have reported not being able to take them into the restaurant and would have welcomed outdoor seating as an alternative, so eating out locally is worth checking ahead. And the layout is unusual: the bathrooms open directly off the bedrooms with no door between them, and the windows are fixed shut, which is worth knowing if you have a dog that gets warm at night. For a couple with one well-settled dog using Brampton as a walking base, it earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.