Acorn Lodge, Pentewan

Acorn Lodge is a compact self-contained lodge in the Pentewan Valley, just off the road between St Austell and Mevagissey on the south Cornwall coast. It is small, but it is arranged well, and it comes with a private garden that dog owners consistently describe as properly secure - which in a part of Cornwall where many of the lets are terraced village cottages is worth going out of your way for.

The welcome extends to the dog rather than merely tolerating it. Guests arrive to find something left out for the dog alongside the drinks, biscuits and starter groceries for the humans, and the owner is quick and helpful with anything that comes up before or during a stay. A pet charge is not stated on the property's booking listing, so confirm the current pet terms before you travel.

The walking is the other draw. The Pentewan Valley trail runs flat and traffic-free along the river from close to the door, which suits an older dog or a wet-weather stroll, and the coast path and the beaches around Pentewan and Mevagissey are minutes away by car. There is a bus stop nearby and the cycle track passes close, so a car-free day is workable. Pubs and restaurants are a five to ten minute drive rather than a walk.

Inside, the lodge is clean, warm in winter and noticeably cool in hot weather, with a good mattress, comfortable seating, a well equipped kitchen and a strong electric shower. Several guests have brought two dogs and found the space worked.

The things to know are small. The wifi drops off in the evenings, so do not plan on streaming. The lodge is genuinely compact, so a large or restless dog will feel it more than a settled one, and the nearest pub is a short drive rather than a walk.

It suits one or two dogs travelling with a couple who want a secure garden, flat river walking from the door and the Cornish coast within a few minutes' drive.