West Lodge, Rockbourne

West Lodge sits on the edge of Rockbourne, a quiet West Hampshire village on the fringe of the New Forest, and the dog welcome here is unusually thorough. A hamper waits in the hallway with towels for muddy fur, poo bags, a spare lead, bowls and a tub of biscuits, plus an ID tag carrying the lodge's phone number to clip on a collar in case your dog goes missing. There is an outside hose for washing down dogs, boots and bikes, and a folder of local walk maps. One well-behaved dog is welcome.

Two house rules matter more than the extras. Dogs are not allowed in the bedroom, not even to sleep on the floor, and not on the furniture, which in practice means a dog that cannot settle downstairs on its own needs a crate. And the garden, though large and beautifully kept, is not enclosed. The owner keeps a run of portable fencing in the garden store that guests can set up alongside the lodge, and most find it does the job, but it is not fixed to anything and dog owners say repeatedly that the listing should be clearer on the point. A dog with unreliable recall needs the fencing, a long line, or a lead.

Beyond that the setting is quiet and properly dark, with very little traffic and no street lights. Footpaths and pubs are within walking distance, though the village lanes have no pavements, so a torch and a short lead make sense after dusk. The New Forest is a few minutes' drive, Fordingbridge covers the shopping, and the dog-friendly beaches at Hengistbury Head are within an easy morning's reach. The lodge also stands on a working estate, so shooting is audible at certain times of year, which is worth knowing if your dog is gun-shy.

For one well-mannered dog whose owner is happy to supervise outdoors, this is a thoughtful and very comfortable base, and it earns a 4.8/5 paw rating.