Baytree Lodge, Weymouth

Baytree Lodge is a large self-catering house on the Preston side of Weymouth, built for a group. It sleeps around ten, every bedroom has its own bathroom, and there is an indoor pool and a games room. It also takes dogs, which is a rarer combination than it sounds: multi-generation family holidays where the dog comes too are exactly what this house is set up for.

The practical advantages stack up. There is ample parking, the house is roomy enough that a dog is never underfoot, and the beaches and sightseeing either side of Weymouth are about five minutes' drive in each direction, so short trips out are easy. The owners have a good reputation for sorting problems out quickly when something needs attention.

The garden needs a clear-eyed look before you book, because dog owners do not agree about it. It has been described as a lovely enclosed space that made bringing a dog straightforward, and it has also been flagged plainly as not secure. The owners themselves put it this way: the rear area is secure once the metal gates are closed, but a small dog could get underneath them, so they stop short of calling the garden securely enclosed. Read that as bounded but not dog-proof, fine for a dog that stays where it is put and not somewhere to let a bolter off the lead unsupervised. Check the boundaries yourself on arrival rather than assuming.

The other thing to know is that this house only relatively recently began accepting dogs, so do not expect dog-specific extras to be laid on. One dog is allowed per booking. No charge for it is published, so confirm that directly when you book.

Best suited to a big group holiday with one steady, well-mannered dog in tow, where the pool and the space matter more than dog-specific facilities. It earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.