The Nest, Brockenhurst

The Nest is a small self-contained property in the middle of Brockenhurst, which is about as well placed as a dog-friendly base in the New Forest gets. You can walk out of the door to the village shops and be on open forest within a few minutes, and the property has its own enclosed garden and patio, so there is a secure space to let a dog out without going anywhere at all.

The welcome is the detail dog owners keep coming back to. The arrival pack is generous by self-catering standards and includes dog treats alongside wine, tea, coffee and milk, which tells you the dog is expected rather than tolerated. Inside it is light and warm, the bed and the swivel armchair get specific praise, and the space works well for a couple plus a dog. The host is responsive and attentive to questions.

The enclosed garden is the property's best feature for dogs and also the one that depends on who stayed last. There are reports of dog mess left uncleared in the garden and found later, and of suspected soiling on the sofa, both put down to thoughtless earlier visitors rather than the owners. It is worth a quick check of the garden on arrival before letting a dog loose in it, and worth telling the host if anything is amiss so it gets dealt with. Pillows have also been mentioned as due for replacement.

Two practical points about the setting. Brockenhurst has ponies and cattle roaming freely through the village and the surrounding forest, so a dog inclined to chase livestock needs to stay on the lead, and the Forest asks for dogs to be kept under close control around ground-nesting birds through spring and early summer. The key safe is also hard to read in the dark, so bring a torch if you are arriving late.

The Nest suits a couple with one dog who want a walkable New Forest village base with a private garden. It earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.