Garden Cottage, Headcorn

Garden Cottage is about as easy a place to bring a dog as a self-catering property gets. The cottage sits in its own grounds at Clock House, and the garden is fully enclosed, so a dog can be let off the lead the moment you arrive rather than walked on a lead round an unfenced lawn. The owners keep dogs themselves and have been happy to let visiting dogs into their own garden to play with theirs, which is unusual and makes a real difference to a dog that wants company.

Inside, the cottage is spacious and recently done out, with a full kitchen and a separate utility room, the latter being exactly what you want for wet towels and muddy paws. The owners leave a generous welcome in: fresh bread, eggs, milk, juice, tea, coffee and biscuits, so the first morning does not need a shop run. There is a patio with a table and loungers for sitting out while the dog pots about the garden. It earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.

Walking is straightforward. Fields surround the property and there are footpaths from the door, so daily exercise does not require getting back in the car. The setting is quiet enough that birdsong is the loudest thing you will hear. Sissinghurst and the wider Weald of Kent are within easy reach for a day out, and there are villages nearby with cafes and shops.

The isolation cuts both ways. This is effectively a car-only property. The approach is down Boarden Lane, following the signs for the Clock House at the end of it, and there is nothing within walking distance in the way of shops or pubs, so anyone hoping to walk to dinner will be disappointed. And while the owners' dogs are clearly part of the appeal, a dog that does not get on with others will need managing, since the shared-garden arrangement is the property's best feature.

Best suited to a couple or a pair travelling with a sociable dog who want a secure enclosed garden, fields to walk in and no neighbours, and who are happy to drive for everything else.