The Snug, Knaresborough

The Snug is a holiday caravan on a quiet riverside park off Wetherby Road in Knaresborough, and it is set up for dogs in the most practical way there is: you are on the ground, with a door straight outside, no corridors and no lifts, and the walks start where you park the car. The park sits close to the Nidd, with woodland paths along the river and an easy walk into Knaresborough itself for the castle, the viaduct and the shops.

Dogs stay without fuss and the owner is quick to answer messages, going out of the way to sort things out before arrival. Inside it is well equipped for a short break - a comfortable bed, a good shower and enough kitchen kit for self-catering - with a seating area and decking outside.

The honest picture on cleanliness is more mixed, and it is the thing to weigh before booking. Because the caravan takes dogs regularly, guests report finding dog hair left behind on carpets, on furniture and on bedding. The recurring complaint is smell: a stale, wet-dog and old-smoke odour from the sofa and carpet, strong enough that some guests could not settle in the living room. Anyone whose own dog sheds heavily will not mind much; anyone sensitive to smells should ask about the sofa before booking.

Other small things: the decking gets slippery in the wet, the living-room window has a film on it that blocks the view, and the outdoor seating faces the neighbouring pitch's parking. One piece of local knowledge worth carrying from guests who have stayed - don't let a dog drink the standing water down at the lido, which has upset a few stomachs.

The Snug earns a 4.0/5 paw rating, a fair reflection of a genuinely dog-friendly, well-placed base whose housekeeping does not always keep up with the dogs it welcomes. It suits owners who want easy, ground-floor access to Knaresborough's river walks and who will not be put off by a well-used sofa.