Watersplash Cottage, Lyme Regis

Watersplash Cottage is a relaxed, easy choice for a dog-friendly break in Lyme Regis. It is a whole cottage let to one party at a time, right in the town, so your dog has its own space to settle rather than sharing corridors with other guests - and crucially it comes with an enclosed, secure garden, which is exactly what most dog owners are hunting for on the coast.

That garden is the feature guests with dogs mention most: somewhere safe to let a dog out off the lead first thing in the morning or after a walk, without worrying about traffic or escapes. The cottage itself is comfortable and well thought out, with cosy beds and good-quality furnishings, and a permit car park close by with plenty of spaces, so arriving and unloading with a dog is straightforward.

The location does a lot of the work. Lyme Regis is one of the most dog-friendly towns on the south coast, and Watersplash Cottage sits within an easy walk of the seafront, the Cobb and the South West Coast Path, with dog-friendly pubs and even a micro-brewery only a few steps away. It suits owners who want to spend their days walking the coast and their evenings somewhere they can bring the dog along.

The few things guests flag are minor: the radiators can be a little slow to warm the place, though there is an electric fire in the lounge, and the kitchen could be better stocked with basics. None of it gets in the way of a comfortable stay. With its secure garden and central position, Watersplash Cottage earns a 4.2/5 paw rating and is best suited to couples and small families who want a cosy, dog-friendly base in the heart of Lyme Regis.