Little Gem Lodge, St Boswells

Little Gem Lodge sits in open countryside a couple of minutes from St Boswells, deep in the Scottish Borders, and it is one of those places where the practical details for dogs have plainly been thought about rather than tolerated. Guests travelling with dogs arrive to find water bowls and food mats already put out, and the enclosed decking and garden around the lodge come up in almost every account: several owners specifically note there is no way for a smaller dog to get out, and one party with a nervous animal described the paddock at the back as the thing that took the stress out of the trip.

The lodge is compact and single-storey, which suits older dogs and less mobile guests alike, and the owners live on site. Dog owners describe them as attentive but unobtrusive, and their own dogs get on well with visiting ones. Welcome packs, a spotlessly clean interior and a genuinely warm reception are the notes that recur most.

St Boswells itself is two minutes away and has a shop, cafe, deli, bookshop and places to eat, so basic supplies do not need a drive. The wider Borders are the point of coming: Melrose, Kelso, Jedburgh, Peebles, Floors Castle and a long list of abbey ruins are all within about twenty minutes, and Tweedbank station four miles away runs direct trains to Edinburgh.

Two things are worth knowing. The lodge is close to a reasonably busy road, though guests with dogs are consistent that the grounds themselves are secure and well maintained. And while the village is near, the setting is rural enough that most proper walks involve a short drive rather than starting at the gate. Guests also mention an industrial estate not far off that turns out to be invisible from the property. A few have suggested the double mattress is ready for an upgrade.

Best suited to owners of small and medium dogs who want secure outdoor space, a warm welcome and a quiet base for touring the Borders.