Jurassic Coast House

Jurassic Coast House is a large, modern three-storey house in a quiet mews on Portland, and it is the kind of place families book again the following year. For dog owners the two features that matter are both outside: a genuinely secure garden, and a fenced dog-walking field directly behind the property. Owners of very small dogs make a point of the garden, which is enclosed well enough to let a tiny dog off the lead, and that is not something most holiday houses can offer.

Inside, it is well beyond the usual holiday-let standard, with a big kitchen and dining space built for a group, quality fittings, and a stack of books, games, DVDs and a dart board for the days the weather turns. Space is the point, and parties of seven or eight with a dog report that everyone still gets their own corner. Worth noting that it is arranged over three floors, which is something to weigh up for an elderly dog or anyone with mobility issues.

No limit on dog numbers is published for the house, and guest accounts regularly describe stays with two, but get your party agreed with the owner in writing before you book rather than assuming. Confirm any pet charge at the same time, as none is published.

On location, Chesil Beach is close by, but set expectations: this stretch is shingle rather than sand and dogs are restricted on that section, so the field behind the house and the Portland coast path do more of the day-to-day work. There is a cafe and bakery at the bottom of the field. Two practical warnings from previous guests are worth carrying. The back gate cannot be opened from the outside, which has stranded people returning from a dog walk, and there is no dog waste bin at the rear. Housekeeping is the one genuinely inconsistent note: most stays describe the house as immaculate, but dog hair left on floors, dust and missing basics have all come up, so flag anything on arrival. At 4.6/5, it is a strong choice for a group holiday with a dog that wants safe outdoor space more than beach access.