5 Roker Terrace, Sunderland

5 Roker Terrace is a seafront apartment in Roker, on the north side of Sunderland, and the location is most of the appeal. Roker beach is across the road, the pier and lighthouse are a short walk north, and the run of cafes and bars along the seafront gives you somewhere to end a long walk. Allocated parking in front of the building is unusual for a seaside terrace and makes arriving with a dog straightforward.

Dogs are taken without fuss, and guests who brought one are consistent on two points: the beach really is on the doorstep, and the flat stays clean and tidy despite being open to dogs, which is not always true of pet-friendly lets. Entry is by key code sent the day before, so there is no reception to negotiate with a dog in tow, and the sea views from the kitchen let you judge the weather before committing to a walk.

Roker and Seaburn beaches run for well over a mile with a promenade behind them, and there is a large supermarket a few minutes away for the dog food you forgot to pack. Some of the apartments in the building are on the upper floors, so it is worth checking which one you have booked if your dog is elderly or heavy to carry.

The honest caveat is cleaning. It is usually good, but a minority of guests have arrived to kitchen and bathroom floors that needed wiping and to a lingering smell they put down to previous dogs, which is the trade-off at a property that takes them. There is also some noise from the hotel next door, which guests generally describe as minor.

Best suited to dog owners who want a beach on the doorstep and a spacious flat to come back to, and who would rather self-cater by the sea than stay in the city centre.