Clematis Cottage, Brancaster

Clematis Cottage sits on Main Road in Brancaster, a few minutes from the salt marshes and the wide sweep of sand that makes this stretch of the North Norfolk coast such a good place to walk a dog. It is let as a whole house rather than a room in a shared building, so there are no corridors or lobbies to negotiate and your dog can settle in much the way it would at home.

The detail that comes up most from guests travelling with dogs is the enclosed garden. An outdoor space a dog can be let into without a lead is the difference between a relaxed self-catering week and a constant round of supervised trips outside. Parties here have brought two dogs at once without difficulty, alongside four adults, and still found the cottage comfortable. Stair gates are provided too, which are as useful for keeping a dog off the stairs as they are for small children.

Brancaster Beach is the obvious walk. It is National Trust land and dogs are welcome there all year, with a small dog-free zone just to the left of the beach entrance between May and September and some roped-off areas protecting ground-nesting birds from March onwards. Dog bins sit next to the toilets. The Norfolk Coast Path runs along the back of the marshes for longer outings, and Brancaster Staithe is a short walk on for the harbour.

Two things to weigh up. The staircase is steep and there is no upstairs bathroom, which matters if your dog is elderly, arthritic or simply large enough that carrying is not an option. And while the cottage takes up to two dogs - and dogs are the only pets it accepts - no pet fee or weight limit is published, so confirm the cost before you book rather than on arrival.

Best suited to walkers who want a whole house, a garden they can open the door onto, and a beach that stays dog-friendly all year.