Col's Mere, Upton

Col's Mere is a small cluster of lodges on Heapham Road outside Upton, set in the flat, quiet West Lindsey countryside of Lincolnshire a few miles east of Gainsborough. The lodges are arranged around a fishing lake, each with a patio facing the water, and guests consistently describe them as well spaced rather than packed in - there is room around each one, which is not always true of lodge sites.

No formal pet policy is published with the listing, but dog-friendliness is one of the things guests raise without being asked, and the site is visibly set up for it. Waste bins for dog mess are provided around the grounds, and the whole site sits behind electric gates, which is worth something if you would rather not spend the week worrying about a dog drifting towards a road. The setting itself is the main draw for anyone with a dog that struggles with noise: this is a properly still place, with fishing and birdwatching the principal activities and very little passing traffic.

Two things are worth weighing. The lake is unfenced and sits directly outside the lodge doors, so a dog that swims on impulse or takes an interest in waterfowl will need watching, particularly around the anglers. And the one criticism aimed squarely at the dog arrangements is about placement rather than provision: at least one lodge has a waste bin sited immediately outside its patio doors, which is not what you want when you are sitting out with a drink. If that would bother you, it is a fair question to ask when booking which lodge you have been given.

The welcome draws warm comment, and the location suits people who are touring the area as much as those staying put. Supplies mean a drive - Gainsborough is the nearest town of any size.

Best suited to couples and small groups who want a still, rural base with a dog, and who are drawn to lake views, fishing and birdsong rather than beaches and hills.