Bybrook Barn B&B

Bybrook Barn is a four-star bed and breakfast down a quiet lane in Swithland, on the edge of Bradgate Park and Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire. It is run as part of a working smallholding, with the hosts' own dogs, a cat and horses around the place, which sets the tone: a small dog arriving with its owners fits into the scene rather than being an exception made for them.

The important qualifier is size. The property takes small dogs only, up to two per booking, and guests travelling with dogs make the same point from the other direction, that rooms are cosy and space is tight once a dog and its kit are in with you. The charge is £20 for the first night and £10 per dog per night after that, which some have found steep for the size of the room. Bowls, treats, poo bags and towels are provided, and dogs are expected to be clean, friendly and well behaved.

What guests with dogs consistently describe is a warm, personal welcome that includes the dog rather than tolerating it, in keeping with the reception the B&B gets generally. The hosts are the reason most people book, and the breakfasts come in for almost as much praise as the setting.

The location earns its keep for dog owners. Bradgate Park, one of the best-known dog-walking spots in the county, is close by, the lane itself is quiet, there are gardens to sit out in, and open countryside starts at the gate. Leicester is around twenty minutes by car, so it works as a rural base with a city within reach. The road in is narrow, and the property takes some finding the first time.

At 4.6/5 it suits owners of a small, settled dog who want a quiet countryside bolthole with characterful hosts and a proper breakfast, and who plan to spend their days out walking rather than in the room.