Judith Barge, Colchester

Judith Barge is a converted barge moored at King Edward Quay on the Colne in Colchester, and it makes an unusual base for a stay with a dog. Dogs are welcomed aboard for a charge of £25 per dog, per night, with a maximum of two, and owners arriving with one find biscuits and bowls already put out in the kitchen alongside the tea, coffee and other welcome extras. It is a small, considered touch rather than a formal pet package, and it sets the tone for how the boat is run.

The practical thing to settle before booking is access. Getting down into the living area means steep steps, and reaching the cabin means a ladder. Owners of small and medium dogs manage by carrying them and treat it as part of the experience, but guests are consistent that a larger or older dog would struggle, and that the access is not obvious from the listing photographs. If your dog cannot be lifted, this is not the stay for it, and a dog new to boats is worth thinking about too.

Above deck there is an outdoor space that owners make good use of in decent weather, and parking sits directly alongside the barge, which removes the usual holiday-let business of unloading a car and a dog at a distance. Inside, the barge is warm even in winter, well equipped and roomier than most people expect, with a full kitchen, a washing machine and a comfortable bed.

For walks, the far bank of the river gives a straightforward route towards Wivenhoe, and High Woods Country Park is a short drive away for something longer and off-road. The quay is a working stretch rather than a scenic one, which a few guests mention, but it is quiet at night and close to both the town and the university campus.

Best suited to owners of a small or medium dog that can be carried down a few steps, who want somewhere genuinely different to stay for a night or two in Colchester.