The Rookery, Lothersdale

The Rookery is a shepherd's hut tucked into its own corner of a smallholding at Raygill Lane, Lothersdale, and it is one of the more thoughtfully dog-minded small stays in this part of North Yorkshire. The outdoor space is fully fenced and secure, which is the one thing most dog owners want from a rural hut and the thing most of them do not get.

No pet fee is flagged on the property's booking listing. What guests with dogs describe finding on arrival is a hut already set up for them: bowls put out, a dog bed provided, and enough enclosed ground outside for a dog to wander off-lead while you sit by the fire pit. The privacy matters as much as the fencing - the hut is set apart rather than sharing a yard, so a dog who barks at passing strangers has very little to bark at.

Lothersdale sits on the Pennine Way, so the walking starts at the gate and the routes run as long as you want them. The Hare and Hounds in the village welcomes dogs and draws steady praise for its food at fair prices.

Set your expectations for what a shepherd's hut is, though. It is compact and largely off-grid, the bed is a hut bed rather than a hotel one, and guests have found the track hard to locate after dark, so it is worth arriving in daylight the first time, particularly with a dog in the car. Pack for weather rather than for comfort.

For one or two people and a dog who wants an enclosed patch of grass and a long walk, The Rookery is close to ideal, and it earns a 4.7 out of 5 paw rating.