Forge Cottage, West Lulworth

Forge Cottage sits in the middle of West Lulworth, a few minutes' walk from Lulworth Cove and the Jurassic Coast path, which makes it one of the more useful bases in Dorset for anyone whose holiday revolves around walking a dog. It is a whole cottage with off-road parking for two cars and a pub down the road, and the owners clearly expect dogs: treats left out on arrival are one of the most consistent things guests mention.

The property takes one well-behaved dog. That limit is firm enough that guests arriving as a two-dog household have asked for it to be raised, so check before booking rather than assume. Dog owners have also reported an owner's charge of around £21 being applied after booking, on a listing that showed no pet charge at the point of enquiry - worth confirming the total before you commit.

The garden is the part to read carefully, because guests do not all describe it the same way. Some have found it completely enclosed and secluded and ideal for a dog. Others describe a generous garden bounded by a low wall, with a gate across the drive that would not contain a small or determined dog, and kept theirs on a lead as a result. One party found the outdoor space was shared with the neighbouring cottage and in regular use by other guests' children, which left them with nowhere private for a dog that wanted peace. If secure off-lead space is the reason you are booking, ask exactly which arrangement applies to your dates.

Beyond that the cottage reads as well kept and generously equipped, with the cove, the coast path and the village pub all walkable. Best suited to a single-dog household that wants a genuinely welcoming cottage in a superb walking spot and does not need to depend on the garden. It earns a 4.7/5 paw rating.