The Master Builders Hotel

The Master Builders sits right in the middle of Bucklers Hard, the old shipbuilding hamlet on the Beaulieu River where Nelson's ships were built, and it takes dogs seriously. Dogs stay in dedicated rooms in the Henry Adams wing for £30 per dog for the whole stay rather than per night, with up to two dogs allowed. A bed, bowls and a treat are set out in the room before you arrive, and dogs are welcome in parts of the bar and outside.

Guests with dogs talk about the welcome more than anything else. Labradors, pugs and small terriers alike get fussed over at check-in, and several owners mention a dog hamper or bed waiting in the room. Repeat visitors come back for the staff, the food in Henry's, the hotel's pub, and the lounges with log fires for a quiet evening with a dog at your feet.

The setting is the real draw for a dog owner. The hamlet runs down a wide grassy slope to the river, and the New Forest is all around, so morning and evening walks start at the front door. One guest wished for more dog waste bins around the grounds, so pack plenty of bags.

There are drawbacks. Several owners found the Henry Adams rooms a little tired, especially the bathrooms, and one couple with a small dog was put in the main house instead, up steep, narrow stairs that were hard going for them and the dog until staff moved them back to the wing. If you or your dog struggle with stairs, ask for the Henry Adams wing when you book. Henry's is not cheap, and one long-time visitor felt that diners with dogs were seated apart from everyone else in the pub.

For a New Forest break by the water, with walks on the doorstep and staff who are glad to see your dog, it is an easy choice. Book it for the place and the welcome rather than for modern rooms.