Cute Mini-Studio, Blythburgh

This is a small self-catering let in Blythburgh, on the edge of the Suffolk coast, and it takes dogs seriously enough that parties routinely arrive with two. It is arranged over two floors with the living space and bedroom split between them, which guests describe as an upside-down house, and the quirky industrial decor is the thing most of them mention first. There is a fenced garden and private off-road parking, both of which matter more than they sound when you pull up with dogs after a long drive.

The booking listing publishes no pet policy, though guests report a modest charge of around ten pounds a night for a dog, so confirm the current figure and the maximum number of dogs when you book. The fenced garden is the standout feature: it gives dogs somewhere safe to stretch out off the lead, which is unusual in a let this size, and the small radiators keep the place properly warm in cold weather.

Blythburgh sits on the A12 with the Blyth estuary and open heathland close by, a few miles inland from Southwold and Walberswick, and it works as a base for exploring the Suffolk coast rather than as a destination in itself.

The staircase is the thing to weigh carefully. It is steep, the listing says as much, and guests confirm it is too steep for most dogs to manage safely. Owners of small dogs simply carry them up and down; owners of larger or older dogs should think hard before booking. It does not help that the lower bedroom door will not shut properly, so a dog left below can still reach the stairs, and it wants a latch fitting. Beyond that the portable hob is slow to heat, the bedroom television has been out of action, and a door hinge needed oiling.

Best suited to owners of one or two small dogs wanting an inexpensive, characterful base for the Suffolk coast, with a safe garden and parking off the road. Larger dogs will struggle with the stairs.