The Wheelhouse, Southwold

The Wheelhouse is a small nautically themed self-catering annexe on Hotson Road in Southwold, built at the bottom of the owner's own garden and about ten minutes' walk from the town centre. For a dog it is an unusually good billet for one reason above all: guests get the use of that garden, and it is enclosed on every side, which is rare in a seaside let this close to the front.

The fittings follow a boat theme, with a raised sleeping deck reached by steep stairs, and the practical side is well handled - the kitchen is properly equipped for self-catering and arrivals are met with milk, tea, coffee and biscuits. Southwold itself does most of the work: the beach, the pier and the boating lake are all within an easy walk, and most of the cafes and pubs in town welcome dogs without a fuss, so a wet-weather day does not mean sitting in.

Two things to weigh before booking. The garden's security depends on the fence being sound, and a dog has arrived to find a panel adrift and been straight through into the neighbouring garden, so it is worth walking the boundary before letting a dog off the lead. The setting also divides opinion: most guests find that having the owner in the house at the front makes no odds and the annexe still feels private, but this is a compact building in someone else's garden rather than a standalone cottage, and not everyone has taken to that arrangement.

Best suited to a couple or a small family with one dog who want to be within walking distance of a Southwold beach rather than driving to it. Dogs are charged £10 for the stay rather than per night, so the extra is modest whether you are down for two nights or a week. It earns a 3.9/5 paw rating.