Garden Cottage, Pulham Market

Garden Cottage is a compact one-bedroom cottage in the grounds of the owners' house at Pulham Market, in the quiet middle of Norfolk, and it suits a couple with a dog about as neatly as anything of its size can. It has its own small patio with westerly views over open fields, use of a well-tended shared lawn, and owners a few steps away who are helpful without ever being in the way.

Dogs have clearly been part of the picture here for years. Greyhounds, dobermans and assorted small dogs all turn up in guest feedback, and the recurring note is how quickly they settle. The cottage is small but properly equipped, the owners leave a welcome of milk and biscuits, and they are quick with practical things like extra towels for wiping muddy paws. The walking is good in every direction: a patch of Woodland Trust woodland is close enough for a decent leg-stretch, and there is a well-liked dog walk a few miles down the road.

Two things to weigh. The garden is not fenced or enclosed, which surprises people who assume a cottage called Garden Cottage will have a secure one. Dogs cannot be let out for a free run, and anyone whose dog needs a two-in-the-morning garden trip will be doing it on a lead, in a dressing gown. And there are chickens in the garden. That has worked out even for a reactive rescue dog, who was more interested in watching them than chasing them, but it is not a detail you want to discover on arrival if your dog has a strong prey drive.

The cottage is genuinely compact, short on storage and hanging space, with a small shower room and a step between kitchen and lounge that would trouble anyone unsteady on their feet, and one stay was marred by flies, which the owners treated at the time. Best suited to a couple or a solo traveller with one calm dog who want deep rural quiet and are content to keep the lead handy outside. It earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.