Little Fishes, Isle of Wight

Little Fishes is a small self-catering barn conversion on Fishbourne Lane on the Isle of Wight, and for anyone crossing with a dog its biggest advantage is how little driving it involves. The ferry terminal is a minute away, so the car comes off the boat and the dog is out and walking almost immediately, which turns a long travel day into a short one.

Dogs are welcome and guests who bring them are unanimous about how easy the arrangement is. Footpaths run straight from the property through quiet wooded lanes, which suits a dog that dislikes traffic, and Ryde and the coast are a few minutes on. Despite being that close to the terminal the spot is private and quiet, with no through traffic past the door. It earns a 4.5 out of 5 paw rating.

Inside it works well as a dog base: fully self-catering, thoughtfully provisioned and clean enough that guests keep describing it as a home from home. The owners are the other recurring theme, welcoming, quick to answer and happy to help with the practicalities of arriving by ferry.

Two practical notes. There is no street number or property name visible from the road, so settle the arrival directions and the key box code with the owners before you set off rather than circling a country lane with a restless dog in the back. The kitchen is well stocked but guests have wanted for cleaning spray, so pack your own if you like to wipe down after a sandy walk.

On the terms themselves, the property does not charge for a dog, which is worth something on a trip that already carries a ferry fare. The allowance is one dog per booking, so a two-dog household will need to ask the owners directly before counting on it.

Best suited to couples and small parties crossing on the Portsmouth to Fishbourne ferry who want to be off the boat and walking the dog within ten minutes.