Madresfield, South Petherton

Madresfield is a small owner-run bed and breakfast tucked into a quiet corner of South Petherton, and it is one of the more straightforwardly dog-friendly places to break a journey into the West Country. Guests arriving with dogs describe being welcomed rather than tolerated, and several make the point that the dog was accommodated as fully as they were.

Rooms are ensuite with a large walk-in shower, a comfortable king-size bed, tea and coffee in the room and a television, and there is a guest lounge upstairs. Breakfast is a self-service continental spread of bread, crumpets, cereal, fruit, yoghurt, juice, tea and coffee, laid out so you can help yourself whenever you are ready, which is worth something when a dog has decided the day starts at six. Some parties get the breakfast room to themselves.

There is a resident cat on the premises, so a dog that reacts badly to cats is worth a conversation before you book. The house sits in the village but in a tucked-away spot, so it is quiet, and the village shops are walkable. The A303 is a few minutes off, with Yeovil and Taunton both an easy drive, which is why a lot of guests use it as a staging post on the way to Cornwall.

The one recurring practical complaint is parking. There is off-road space on the driveway, but it takes some negotiating and it really only suits a smaller car, and more than one guest in a larger hire car has found it tight. The coffee is instant, and the bed sits high enough that a shorter guest noticed.

With a 4.6 out of 5 paw rating from four guests who brought dogs, Madresfield suits anyone wanting a comfortable, well-kept overnight stop in south Somerset where the dog will get a proper welcome at the door.