49 Ulwell Road, Swanage

49 Ulwell Road is a big, sociable holiday house in Swanage that works brilliantly for multi-generation families and groups of friends bringing the dog along. It has a 4.7/5 paw rating, and the reason is simple: the location could hardly be better for dog walking.

Directly behind the house is a large park, which dog owners use every day for strolls and for meeting the locals, and it is quiet rather than noisy. A five-minute walk takes you down to the seafront, with a dog-friendly stretch at the far end of the beach near a café and toilets, and in the other direction the paths climb up towards Ballard Down and the Purbeck hills. The entrance hall has space for wet coats and boots and a bench over a radiator, which is useful after a muddy walk.

The house centres on a huge kitchen-diner with bifold doors onto a sun deck and a large barbecue, opening into a games room with a pool table that keeps both children and adults busy. There is driveway parking for several cars, and the owner leaves a thoughtful welcome basket.

Reports on the garden differ. Some guests found it secure and very dog-friendly, while others felt it was small for the size of the house and not completely dog-proof, so check the boundaries before letting a determined escapee out alone. The separate lounge is small and can feel cold, and one family with a small dog chose not to light the fire. Several guests felt the house needed some attention: tired bedrooms, bobbly sheets, stained towels, cobwebs and a few cupboards needing a wipe. A pet-free guest was also disappointed to find dog hair left in the kitchen.

For a large group wanting a well-located base with a park on the doorstep and the beach close by, 49 Ulwell Road is a strong choice, as long as you can overlook a few rough edges.