Woodbrook Cottage, Bridport

Woodbrook Cottage is a large, comfortable four-bedroom house in the village of Bothenhampton, on the edge of Bridport and about a mile from the west Dorset coast. Sleeping up to ten and welcoming up to three dogs, it is built for the kind of big family-and-dogs holiday that is hard to book elsewhere, and guests travelling with dogs are, on the whole, very happy here.

The location does a lot of the work. Bothenhampton sits in quiet countryside with walks straight from the village, and the dog-friendly beaches of the Jurassic Coast, including West Bay, are only a short trip away, so there is no shortage of places to exercise a dog. The house itself gets consistent praise for being spacious, clean and well equipped, with a wood burner and a proper kitchen for a group, and there is private parking and an enclosed garden.

There is one specific quirk that dog owners should know about, because it comes up more than once in guest feedback. Although the garden is enclosed, dogs are asked not to use it for toileting, and there is a note in the house to that effect. Most guests take it in their stride and simply walk their dog outside when needed, and several have said it was no problem at all. But if your routine relies on opening the back door and letting the dog out into the garden freely, this will feel restrictive, so it is worth going in knowing about it.

Aside from that, the welcome for dogs is genuine and warm, with owners repeatedly recommending it and saying they would return. For a larger group travelling with a dog or two who want a spacious Dorset base with beaches and countryside walks close by, Woodbrook Cottage is a strong choice. Confirm the number of dogs and any charge directly when you book, as the listing does not spell out a pet fee.