The Clock Tower & Dairy, Rotherfield Peppard

The Clock Tower & Dairy is a pair of converted barns on a farm estate in the Chilterns, a few miles north of Reading and close to Henley-on-Thames. On paper it is promising ground for a dog: the site sits behind electric gates, each barn is self-contained with its own door, and footpaths run off the estate straight into open country. Guests rate the properties themselves very highly, at 9.7/10 across 57 reviews, and the quiet is a genuine feature.

The dog side is less settled, and it is the reason to read this page carefully. Experiences split. Some parties have brought dogs and found the welcome warm and the surrounding walks a real draw. Others booked on the understanding that several dogs would be fine and were told after arriving that dogs were not permitted at all, which is an expensive thing to discover at the door. There is also a lead rule across the estate, because the neighbouring property keeps cats.

Part of the problem is that the booking listing sets out no pet terms whatsoever - no fee, no size limit, no maximum number of dogs. That leaves a gap between what a search filter suggests and what the owner will actually accept. The fix is simple but not optional: confirm directly, in writing, how many dogs are accepted and on what conditions before any money changes hands. One well-behaved dog appears to be a different proposition here from three.

The setting is otherwise a strong argument for the place. It is properly rural, with villages and pubs a short drive away and Henley and Reading both within easy reach. The access road is narrow and can get slippery after rain, which is worth knowing if you are loading a muddy dog back into the car.

Best suited to one or two well-behaved dogs whose owners have pinned down the arrangement beforehand. Turn up with a pack on an unconfirmed booking and it may not go well, which is what keeps this at a 3.9/5 paw rating despite an otherwise excellent property.