White Thorns, Haverfordwest

White Thorns is a big 1930s bungalow on the edge of Haverfordwest, and the feature that brings dog owners back is the garden. It is unusually large, hedged the whole way round and laid mostly to lawn, with a patio to sit out on. Guests arriving with two or three large dogs describe it as the thing that made the booking work, and there is room in the rear lounge for several dog beds.

Up to three pets are accepted. Reports on how secure the garden is run mostly very positive, including from owners of determined escapers, but they are not unanimous: guests with small dogs have found gaps low in the hedge, and one dog got out that way. The house information asks that dogs are not left unattended outside for that reason. The front garden has no gate, so anyone whose dog bolts through an open door will want to block that side off. One more point for a winter stay: the rear lounge opens straight onto the garden and is carpeted, so wet paws land on it immediately.

The bungalow itself is dated and fairly honest about it. Guests consistently call it spacious, warm, clean and well equipped, with comfortable beds and two separate sitting rooms, while noting that the decor and some of the furniture belong to an earlier era. There is one bathroom, worth weighing up if the party is at full capacity, and the owner is repeatedly described as helpful and quick to sort things out.

The location works hard. It is about a ten minute walk downhill into Haverfordwest for shops, supermarkets and the station, with plenty of dog-friendly pubs in town, although the walk back up is a proper climb. The Pembrokeshire coast is a short drive, and Tenby and St Davids within the hour. The recurring gripe is the driveway: steep, narrow and with nowhere to turn at the top, so most guests reverse out onto the road.

One note on cleanliness: some guests have arrived to find dog mess left on the rear lawn by a previous party, so cast an eye over the grass before letting your own dogs loose.

Best suited to a household travelling with two or three dogs who want serious secure outdoor space and a walkable town, and who do not mind dated decor or an awkward driveway.