Janitor's Lodge, Ticehurst

Janitor's Lodge is a two-bedroom self-catering house on The Mount at Ticehurst, a village right on the Kent and East Sussex border, and it is set up for dogs in the small practical ways that matter on a self-catering break. There is a private garden and off-road parking, and dogs arriving with their owners tend to be met with treats rather than a list of rules. The owners have done most of the renovation themselves, and the result is quirky and characterful without being precious about it, which is exactly what you want when a wet dog comes back in.

The welcome is what guests travelling with dogs mention most. Milk left in the fridge, fresh eggs and dog treats set the tone, and the owners have been quick to respond when guests asked for something. The garden is the one thing worth raising before you book. It is private and guests have been happy letting dogs out into it, but some have had to make it properly secure first, so if your dog is an escape artist it is worth asking exactly what the boundaries are.

The location earns its keep. Walking runs straight out of the back garden and down into the valley, muddy enough in winter to want wellies. Beyond that the Weald is dense with days out: Sissinghurst, Scotney Castle and Bodiam Castle are all a short drive, an independent cinema and a supermarket are close by, and Rye and the sands at Camber are around half an hour away.

Two things to weigh. The house fronts a busy road, and traffic noise comes up often enough in reviews to take seriously, which also makes getting a dog in and out of the car at the front less relaxed than it might be. The other is temperature: the house runs cool in the colder months, with a draught down the chimney, curtains rather than blinds at the bedroom windows, and the occasional problem with the boiler. The nearest woods are awkward to reach on foot with a dog, so the valley walk behind the house tends to become the default.

Best suited to a couple or a small family with one or two dogs who want a characterful Weald base for castles, gardens and the Sussex coast, and who are happy to walk from the back gate. It earns a 4.4/5 paw rating.