The Lock House, Gloucester

The Lock House is a character property on the canal at Gloucester, with a lock and the River Severn at the bottom of the garden, and it is set up for dogs with a level of thought that suggests whoever fitted it out has one. The garden is fully fenced off from the water, so a dog can be let out to potter without anyone standing over it. There is an outside tap for rinsing muddy legs, and the kitchen is tiled rather than carpeted, which is the sort of detail that only matters on a wet arrival.

Up to two pets are allowed. The walking is the other draw. A small bridge behind the house leads straight into fields, with dog-walking ground about two minutes from the back door, and the canal towpath runs from the doorstep for as far as anyone wants to take it. Guests regularly describe leaving the car parked in its own space for a whole week, which in a city as awkward to drive around as Gloucester is a genuine luxury: the Docks, the quay and the city centre are all comfortably walkable, and the route is flat enough to suit people who do not walk easily.

Inside it is a proper old house with a real fire, and the welcome tends to include tea, coffee, milk and biscuits waiting on arrival. The lock itself becomes part of the stay, with boats going through and a lock keeper to wave at.

Two things temper it. Finding somewhere in the city that will let a dog in for a meal takes some hunting. Guests have managed it, but not on the first attempt, so it is worth working out the options before travelling rather than after a long walk. And there is road noise from the small bridge that crosses the canal beside the house, noticeable for the first day or two and then generally forgotten.

With a 4.5/5 paw rating, The Lock House works best for one or two dogs whose owners want a fenced garden and towpath walking within strolling distance of a city centre. That is a rarer combination than it should be, and it is the reason guests keep saying they would come back.