Hazel Cottage, Mildenhall

Hazel Cottage is a compact self-contained place on a quiet cul-de-sac in Mildenhall, and it is set up in a way that suits dog owners almost by accident of design. The whole property is private, there are no shared corridors to negotiate, and it comes with its own enclosed garden that guests travelling with dogs mention again and again as the thing that made the stay easy. Pets are welcome for an extra £12 per night.

The garden is the selling point. It is fully enclosed and secure enough that dogs can be let out without a lead, and guests with dogs describe simply leaving the door open and letting them come and go. It is worth knowing that the yard is hard standing rather than lawn - guests report that this suited them fine, and it does make muddy paws less of an issue, but a dog that wants grass will need the short walk to the park at the end of the road.

The hosts live nearby rather than on site, and they keep a dog of their own, which comes up often in guest feedback, usually from people who were hoping to meet it. Guests describe them as easy to deal with and quick to help. Inside, hard floors and a thorough standard of cleaning make the place forgiving of a dog that has been out in the Suffolk mud.

For walks, there is a small park at the end of the road and woodland within easy reach, plus a pub about five minutes on foot that dog owners describe as welcoming, and a convenience shop the same distance away. The setting is close to RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, which is a draw for some visitors and a caveat for others: guests do report early morning noise from aircraft and from traffic on the adjacent road, so a dog that wakes easily may wake early here.

It earns a 4.7/5 paw rating, and it suits couples or solo travellers with one or two dogs who want a self-contained base with a secure garden rather than a hotel with facilities. Larger parties and anyone needing a lawn should look elsewhere.