By The Sea, Newquay

By The Sea is a comfortable, well-equipped apartment on the cliff top in central Newquay, looking out over the harbour and Towan Beach with the coast path a few yards from the front door. As a base for walking a dog it has real appeal: the town, the harbour and several beaches are all within strolling distance, and dog owners describe an early-morning harbour walk quickly becoming the routine of the week.

One well-behaved dog is welcome at £60 per week, and a second is accepted only by prior arrangement with the owner. The restriction to understand before booking is outdoor space. Dogs are not allowed in the communal gardens, and they must be kept on a lead anywhere in the shared grounds. There is no private garden, and the balcony is shared and open at one end, so there is nowhere at the property to let a dog out on its own.

That catches people out, and it is the single most common complaint from guests who brought a dog: several felt the dog-friendly billing oversold things, particularly those with a young or lively dog who expected somewhere secure to let them out, and more than one pointed out that the garden rule is not spelled out in the listing. Others took the opposite view and found it no hardship, given how close the coast path and the beaches are.

Inside, the feedback is warm - clean, spacious, thoughtfully stocked, and a welcome touch or two waiting on arrival - and the views really are the selling point. A few guests have had a slow handover waiting on keys, so confirm arrival arrangements in advance.

By The Sea suits a settled dog that is happy walking on the lead and relaxing indoors between outings, with owners who want a central Newquay bolthole and sea views rather than a garden. Dogs that need a secure patch of their own will be better served elsewhere, and on that balance it earns a 3.9/5 paw rating.