The Swallows Nest, Marton

The Swallows Nest is a single-storey bungalow in the Lincolnshire village of Marton, and it was set up with dogs in mind rather than simply resigned to them. The whole property sits on one level, which makes a real difference for older dogs or anything that struggles with stairs, and it opens directly onto a private, enclosed garden a dog can use without going on a lead first.

The welcome is what guests travelling with dogs come back to most. Arrivals are met with a spread of treats, bowls and blankets for the dogs alongside milk, butter and baked goods for their owners, and the owners keep dogs of their own, so nothing about a pet's arrival is treated as an inconvenience. Parties have turned up with two dogs, including young and boisterous ones, without any fuss being made at check-in.

Marton sits on the edge of the Trent valley, and riverside walks start a short stroll from the door, which is as useful for a last-thing-at-night circuit as for a proper day out. The village is quiet, so it suits nervous dogs, and it works well as a break in a long drive north.

Two things to plan around. The property is small, with one bedroom, so it is better suited to a couple with a dog or two than to a group, and it books up well ahead for the warmer months. The property takes up to two dogs, and the booking listing does not publish a pet charge, so confirm that directly when you reserve. On balance it earns a 4.9/5 paw rating, and it is hard to fault for a couple travelling with dogs who want somewhere quiet and genuinely arranged around them.