Quirky Mid-Century Holiday Home, Shepton Mallet

This is a self-contained annexe in Shepton Mallet furnished in 1950s and 1960s pieces, which guests describe as mostly original rather than reproduction. For dog owners the practical appeal is simpler: there is a small enclosed garden reached straight from the main bedroom, fields directly opposite, and Collett Park with its open green space a minute or two's walk away.

The hosts get consistently warm feedback and put out welcoming extras for dogs. The accommodation matches its description closely too, with space, parking, cleanliness and bedding all coming up as better than expected. Dog owners tend to describe it as an easy place to arrive at with an animal in tow, with no sense that the dog is being tolerated rather than welcomed.

The location works well as a touring base. Wells, Glastonbury and Bath are all within an easy drive, and Shepton Mallet itself has supermarkets and shops within walking distance. The fields opposite and the park mean the routine walks need no car at all.

Opinions on the garden diverge, and it matters more than most details here. Most dog owners describe it as small but properly enclosed and easy to use straight from the bedroom; at least one party who chose the property specifically because they were bringing dogs judged the boundary not secure enough. If you have an escape artist, ask for photographs of the fencing before booking. The other thing to know is heat: the living room is a conservatory, and in warm weather it becomes too hot to sit in until the evening, which is worth planning around with a dog. Bathroom ventilation and slow shower drainage also come up more than once.

For dog owners who want somewhere characterful and well kept in the Mendips, with a garden off the bedroom and a park at the end of the street, this earns a 4.4/5 paw rating. The one question worth settling in advance is whether that garden is secure enough for your particular dog.