Gainsborough Lodge, Jedburgh

Gainsborough Lodge is a holiday lodge on Lilliardsedge Holiday Park, tucked into the Scottish Borders countryside north of Jedburgh, and it works for dogs for two straightforward reasons: the decking is enclosed, and there is a forestry walk on the site itself. Dog owners consistently describe the lodge as immaculate, spacious and better equipped than expected, with near-new furniture and enough indoor room that a wet day is not a problem.

The location earns its keep. The park sits in walking country, and the wider Borders spread out from it, with Melrose, Jedburgh Abbey and the Cheviot foothills all a short drive and the Northumberland coast at Bamburgh reachable for a longer day. Guests travelling with dogs describe good walks in every direction and rate the on-site woodland loop for a quick evening leg-stretch.

There are real caveats, and they come up often enough to take seriously. The most persistent from dog owners is that a park marketed as dog-friendly does not put out enough dog waste bins, which is a genuine nuisance on a site this size. The lodge also sits close to the touring and camping pitches, so there is car and motorhome movement on gravel roads past the door, and one stay reported a smell from sewage containers next to the lodge. The on-site bar, shop and restaurant are all priced high, so it is worth arriving stocked up.

Finding the lodge on arrival has caught people out, since reception does not always direct guests to privately let units - ask the owner for the lodge number and its position on the park before you travel. No pet fee, dog limit or breed restriction is published, so confirm those directly. With a 4.6/5 paw rating, Gainsborough Lodge suits dog owners who want a comfortable, well-kept Borders base with walking on the doorstep and are relaxed about a busy holiday park around them.