Bowkett Cottage, Cinderford

Bowkett Cottage is about five minutes' walk from the Forest of Dean, and it is one of those rare lets that works as well for three large dogs as it does for one small one. The garden is fully enclosed and bigger than the photographs suggest, the downstairs floors are practical, and there is a hosepipe outside for rinsing muddy dogs before they come in - the sort of detail that tends to appear only when the owners keep dogs themselves.

The welcome goes further than the fabric of the building. Bowls are provided, and when a small dog needed a tighter boundary the owners added extra fencing on the day of arrival. They live next door, which guests consistently describe as attentive rather than intrusive. A dog-friendly pub is around three minutes away and has been happy to seat a party with three large dogs in the restaurant, which is unusual enough to be worth knowing.

The owners take up to two dogs, and stair gates keep them to the ground floor. No charge is published, so confirm any fee with them when you book. Two honest caveats. Cinderford itself is a working town rather than a picture-postcard one, and some guests have found it tired - it works as a base for the forest rather than as a destination in its own right. And because the cottage is genuinely used by dogs, guests arriving without one have occasionally noticed traces of previous four-legged visitors, though nobody has described it as a real problem.

Off-road parking takes two cars, the welcome pack sets out local walks, and the forest trails start close enough to reach on foot. Best suited to dog owners who want secure outdoor space and forest walking without a drive, including anyone travelling with several dogs or a large breed. It earns a 4.8/5 paw rating.