Little Barn, Fordingbridge

Little Barn is the kind of place people book specifically because they are bringing a dog. It is a whole-property barn conversion with its own walled garden, so there are no shared corridors, no other guests to negotiate and a safe enclosed courtyard for a dog to potter in while you sit outside. Fordingbridge sits on the western edge of the New Forest, and the walks start more or less at the door.

Dog owners are notably happy here, and several treat it as a dog holiday in its own right rather than a stay that merely tolerated one. The walled courtyard does much of that work, along with an owner who takes an interest - guests arriving with a dog get pointed at specific local walks, including the woodland bluebells in spring. There is a cluster of dog-friendly pubs and restaurants within reach for evenings out, which matters on a rural booking where the alternative is cooking every night.

Inside, the barn suits a wet dog better than most self-catering properties. It is open plan, generously sized and properly equipped, with a log burner that does the drying and a bath and shower up to washing off New Forest mud. Tea, coffee, milk and biscuits are left ready for arrival.

Two practical caveats. The barn is considerably further out of Fordingbridge than the address suggests, and the access road is narrow and awkward - fine once you know it, but not somewhere to arrive after dark on a first visit. And the large patio doors are draughty, with the temperature dropping overnight in cold weather despite the log burner, so a dog sleeping downstairs will want a decent bed away from the glass.

Best suited to couples and solo travellers with one or two dogs who want quiet, space and immediate access to walking country, and who do not mind a rural drive to reach it. It earns a 4.6 out of 5 paw rating.