Oaklands Cottage, Monmouth

Oaklands Cottage is a cottage on a working farm a few miles outside Monmouth, and it is about as comfortable a landing spot for a dog as this part of the Wye Valley offers. It is a whole house to yourselves with no shared corridors or neighbouring rooms, which takes most of the usual worries out of a stay with a nervous or vocal dog.

The setup outdoors is what guests with dogs talk about. There is a patio area enclosed well enough for most dogs to be let out unsupervised, open farm space beyond it for proper exercise, and a duck pond that comes with its own cast of ducklings and a territorial swan. Inside, the log burner is the reliable draw, and parties travelling with dogs describe them settling in front of it for the evening and refusing to move. The hosts leave a welcome of bread, milk, eggs and butter, and are described as friendly without hovering.

For walks you are well placed. Buckholt Woods is close by, the Forest of Dean and Symonds Yat are a short drive, and the Brecon Beacons are within reach for a bigger day out. Monmouth itself has pubs and places to eat, with dog-friendly options along the river.

Two practical notes. Expect a pet charge to be settled with the owner on arrival rather than added to the price you pay online, so budget for it and confirm the amount when you book. And while the patio is secure for a medium-sized dog, a smaller or more determined escape artist could probably find a way out, so check it yourself before letting a dog loose. This is a working farm, so the usual rules around livestock and poultry apply.

It earns a 4.8/5 paw rating and suits owners who want space, quiet, and a fire to dry a wet dog in front of. The A40 runs nearby, but the cottage faces away from it and guests rarely mention the road.