Beehive Cottage, Gillingham

Beehive Cottage is a whole-house holiday let on The Street in Gillingham, a Norfolk village on the far bank of the Waveney from Beccles, and the feature that matters most for dogs is the garden. It is large, it sits at the front, and guests consistently describe it as secure enough to let a dog out unsupervised - including parties travelling with more than one. There is room on the drive for two large cars alongside it, which is more than most village cottages of this size manage.

The cottage trades on authentic character rather than modern finish, and it works: a cosy sitting room, comfortable beds, a quiet position and a standard of cleanliness that every review picks out. The owners are the other thing guests keep mentioning. They go out of their way to make both people and dogs feel expected rather than tolerated, and the practical side - instructions, keys, local recommendations - is handled without fuss.

Beccles is a walk away over the bridge, with its riverside, shops and pubs, and the Waveney valley gives you flat, easy dog walking in both directions from the village. The southern Broads are on the doorstep for towpath walks, and the Suffolk coast at Lowestoft and Southwold is a short drive for a beach day when the dog needs a proper run.

Two practical notes. Reversing off the drive onto The Street is easier with someone guiding you, so allow for that if you are in a long vehicle. And the layout inside - steps, narrow doorways and an older cottage's proportions - will not suit anyone with limited mobility, which is worth knowing if the dog is not the only member of the party who needs a level route in.

With a 4.7/5 paw rating, Beehive Cottage suits a family or a couple with one or two dogs who want a secure garden, a walkable market town and the Broads within reach. It is a better fit for dogs that will happily use a garden than for anyone who needs a fully accessible property.