Sit out in the courtyard garden to the front of this gorgeous stone cottage in the village of Gunnerside and lose yourselves in the views. Sleeping four guests, the two-bedroom hideaway is surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and makes a superb base for anyone eager to explore it. Providing dog-friendly accommodation plus a wood burner for winter nights in, the cottage is ideal for small families or couples, with or without a canine companion, at any time of year.

Take off your walking boots and dry damp paws in the porch before stepping in to savour the warm welcome of the cottage. Find yourselves in the bright, airy lounge/diner where you can sit back on the soft seating in front of a roaring wood burner to watch your favourite programmes on TV or play a game or two before dinner. Wander through to the kitchen to unpack any groceries you have bought and to prepare a hearty feast for your friends or family members to sit down to. Climb stone steps and then stairs up to your bedrooms when you are ready to turn in for the night. Both of these comfortable rooms feature double beds. There is a family bathroom where you can unwind in a long, hot bubble bath at the end of each day’s explorations. Take your book and a cup of tea out into the sunshine on summer days. Soak up the scenery and watch the world go by.

Venture out to discover the beauty of Swaledale. Pick up the Corpse Way, a 16-mile medieval track, or head off through Gunnerside Gill, a valley with woodland and waterfalls. Plan a day out in Richmond, 16 miles away, to potter in its colourful shops and galleries and to visit the castle.

Accommodation