Forgemasters House, Telford

Forgemasters House is a large self-catering house in Coalbrookdale, on the edge of the Ironbridge Gorge, and its shape does a lot of the work for dog owners. You take the whole building, so there are no shared corridors to manage, no lift to time and nobody else's dog to pass on the stairs. Guests who have brought dogs describe it as working comfortably for two families and their pets at once.

Space is the property's strongest card. It sleeps up to eight, the kitchen is well equipped, and the sitting room is big enough for a whole party to be in one room together - which in practice means a wet dog can dry off somewhere out of the way rather than in the only usable space. There is parking on site, worth more than it sounds in a valley where the older streets run out of kerb quickly.

The location suits a dog's routine. Ironbridge's shops and cafes are an easy walk away, and the wooded paths and riverside routes through the Gorge start close to the door, so the first walk of the day does not need the car. There is an outdoor area at the back for the in-between moments.

Two things are worth checking before you book. The booking listing carries no pet-policy detail at all - nothing on charges, numbers, or where dogs are allowed inside - so anyone travelling with a large dog, or more than one, should confirm the arrangements with the owner directly. The other is cleanliness at changeover: guests have arrived to find dog hair through the house and the general standard below what they expected. It is the property's most repeated complaint, and the one most likely to matter if someone in your party is sensitive to it.

For a group who want one roof, a walkable base for the Gorge and no fuss about bringing dogs along, Forgemasters House earns its 4.4/5 paw rating.