Megs Cottage, Norwich

Megs Cottage is a mid-1800s cottage in Drayton, a village a few miles north-west of Norwich, and the thing that makes it work for dogs is what sits just up the road. Marriott's Way, a 26-mile footpath and cycle route along a former railway line, starts a few minutes from the front door, which means a proper walk without getting back in the car.

The listing allows one dog per booking, and the owners lean into it rather than merely permitting it. Dog bowls and biscuits are put out ready, and guests arriving with a dog often find something left for them alongside the usual welcome tray. Owners describe easy, friendly conversations with the hosts about bringing a dog in the first place, which is not always how that exchange goes.

The cottage itself is small, warm and full of character - cosy in winter with everything a self-catering week needs, and noticeably cool inside on hot days. There is a small enclosed courtyard garden at the back, secure enough for a dog to nose around in, though it is genuinely tiny and there is not much room to sit out there once a dog is in it with you.

Two practical points. The staircase is steep and narrow in the way old cottages are, so it does not suit a dog that needs carrying or an owner who is unsteady on stairs. And the cottage fronts a busy main road near a junction, which matters when you open the door with a dog on a lead, even though the double glazing keeps it quiet inside. Parking is one car off the road. A supermarket, a pub, a cafe and a garage are all within a few minutes' walk, and the bus into Norwich runs from the same road.

It earns 4.8/5, and it is a strong pick for one or two people with a single dog who want the Norfolk Broads and the north coast in easy reach and a village base rather than a city-centre one.