The Retreat, Aylsham

The Retreat is a one-bedroom cabin set back in woodland off Sankence Lane, just outside Aylsham in north Norfolk, and its appeal to dog owners is simple: there is nobody next door. No shared walls, no passing footfall, no other guests to manage. For a dog that barks at arrivals or takes a night or two to settle somewhere new, that quiet is the whole point.

Guests travelling with dogs describe the setting as both the reason they booked and the reason they would return. Trees and fields sit immediately outside, the lanes are quiet enough for an early walk, and there is space enough that a dog can be off the lead without much thought. Aylsham itself is a short drive for supplies, and the Norfolk Broads and the north Norfolk coast are both within easy reach for a bigger day out.

The cabin is small and well kept. Guests repeatedly use words like spotless and homely, and note that the hosts have thought through what a one-bedroom stay actually needs. Couples travelling with a small dog have been happy to cook and eat in rather than going out, which is a fair test of whether a place works with a dog in tow.

Two things to weigh. Utilities have failed at least once: a stay was left without water for a morning and then without hot water because of a boiler fault, which is a bigger problem in a remote cabin than it would be in a town. And consumables run thin, with guests given a single bin bag and tea towel and a request for more going unanswered, so bring your own along with towels for a wet dog. No pet terms are published on the listing, so agree dog numbers and any charge with the hosts when you book.

Best suited to a couple with one or two dogs who want quiet, woodland and no neighbours, and who are content to be self-sufficient.