Holly Tree Cottage, Annalong

Holly Tree Cottage is a spacious detached house on the Glassdrumman Road above Annalong, with the Mourne Mountains rising behind it and the Irish Sea in front. It suits a dog particularly well: the mountain tracks inland, the Annalong shore and the coastal path are all a short drive away, so a dog can have a hard day out and a quiet evening indoors afterwards.

The feature that matters most here is the secure front garden. Guests travelling with dogs pick it out ahead of anything else, and the reason is obvious - a dog can be let out first thing without a lead, and that takes the edge off arriving somewhere unfamiliar. There is more outdoor space beyond it, with a fire pit and a barbecue in the shed, and dogs are described running themselves tired in it.

Inside, the house is large enough that dogs and people are not tripping over each other, and it is warm and genuinely cosy on dark winter evenings. The owners leave a welcome pack and small touches in the kitchen, and they draw consistently warm write-ups for being helpful and easy to deal with. Taken together, the picture from guests with dogs is of a house that copes with them rather than one that simply allows them - which is also what the 9.8/10 guest score across 53 reviews reflects.

Two caveats. The lane up to the house is rough and slow going, and while guests almost uniformly say it is worth it, a low car will feel every yard. And the property's booking listing carries no pet terms at all - no fee, no limit on numbers, no size rule - so agree the details with the owners before you travel. Beyond that this is an easy recommendation for a family or a group heading to the Mournes with a dog, and it earns a 4.7/5 paw rating.