The Old Fire Station at Colerne

The Old Fire Station is a converted apartment in the village of Colerne, high enough above the surrounding countryside to get views from the front windows and close enough to Bath to work as a base. For dog owners the appeal is that walks begin the moment you step outside: guests with dogs point to the lanes around the village and to Frank's Wood, a few minutes on foot from the door, as the everyday routes.

Colerne itself does a lot of the work. There is a general store and a post office, and both village pubs welcome dogs, so an evening out does not mean leaving anyone behind. Guests travelling with dogs also make regular use of the park and ride into Bath and Bristol, where dogs travel free, which keeps the car parked and still puts the cities on the table. Parking is directly outside the apartment.

The flat is compact and honest about it. It suits two adults and two small dogs comfortably, the conversion is finished to a high standard, and there is a welcome pack waiting on arrival. The catch, and it is the one thing dog owners raise, is that there is no private outdoor space at all: no garden, no yard. Every toilet trip is a walk, which is fine for an adult dog on a settled routine and less so for a puppy or an older dog that needs quick access outside.

Best suited to one or two small to medium dogs whose owners want village quiet, easy country walking and Bath within reach. The Old Fire Station earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.