Pumping Station Holidays

Pumping Station Holidays sits in the middle of the woods at Green Bottom, between Littledean and Cinderford in the Forest of Dean, and for a dog it is close to ideal: walks start at the front gate and go straight into the trees. The property is a converted pumping station let as separate rooms, with the owners living on site.

One thing to get right at the booking stage: not every room here takes dogs. Guests who have booked the wrong one found the hosts willing to move them into a dog-friendly room, which says something about how the place is run, but it is easier to pick correctly first time. The listing publishes no pet fee, weight limit or cap on numbers, so confirm those at the same time.

Hospitality is the recurring theme. There is a welcome pack, clear directions to somewhere that is genuinely hard to find otherwise, and hosts who go past the minimum - one party was lent a bat detector for the evening. Cleanliness scores are very high, which matters more than it sounds when a dog has been out in Forest of Dean mud all day.

The location suits walking holidays more than sightseeing ones. Woodland paths lead from the gate, the wider Forest of Dean is on the doorstep for longer routes on foot or by bike, and it is quiet enough that birdsong is what guests remember about the mornings. Cinderford is the nearest town for supplies.

Worth knowing: this is a shared building rather than a private cottage, so a dog that reacts to other guests coming and going will need managing, and no fenced garden has been reported. The outside seating area has been described as dark. For dog owners who want forest walks from the door and hosts who take an interest, it is a strong choice - as long as the room you book is one of the ones that takes dogs.