Vintage 2-Bed Flat with Free Parking, Measham

The pull of this Measham flat for anyone travelling with a dog is what sits on the doorstep rather than what is inside it. The National Forest wraps around the village, and there is a dog walk roughly three minutes away on foot where the paths carry on through fields, woodland and past lakes for as long as you want to keep going. A park with a playground and its own network of dog-walking paths is close by too, so the short trip out before bed is easy.

Dogs are straightforwardly welcome here, and parties have brought more than one without difficulty. The host is the other thing that comes up repeatedly: guests describe someone who checks in during the stay to make sure everything is as it should be, and who is happy to point walkers at the right paths. The village is easygoing about dogs too, with a cafe on the main street that admits them.

The caveat that matters is that this is a village-centre flat with no private outdoor space of its own, and there are double yellow lines on the road directly outside. Dog owners who needed a garden or a quick unsupervised step outside have turned round on arrival rather than stay, so be clear about what your dog needs before you book. The free parking is a public car park a short walk away rather than a space at the door, which is worth knowing when you are unloading a car with a dog in it.

The flat itself is quirky and comfortable rather than polished. The decor runs to collected oddments that some find charming and others find cluttered, and the windows are single-glazed onto the street, so traffic and voices carry from early morning and can unsettle a dog that wakes easily.

Best suited to dog owners who want an inexpensive, well-placed base for walking the National Forest, and who are happy to lead a dog out to a park rather than open a back door. It earns a 4.4 out of 5 paw rating.