Carne Mill, Saint Anthony-in-Meneage

Carne Mill sits in a quiet corner of the Helford estuary at Saint Anthony-in-Meneage, a large self-catering house with its own grounds running down towards the creek. It sleeps a big group, and the setting - tidal water at the bottom of the garden, footpaths straight off the doorstep - is the sort of place most dogs love. It is worth going in with clear eyes about the pet arrangements, though, because guests travelling with dogs have been frank about them.

The house takes up to two dogs, but not on an open booking: the owner approves each dog before you book and will ask for the breed and the age, so this is a stay to arrange rather than assume. Once you are there, dogs are expected to be kept under control at all times, and they are not allowed on the furniture or in the bedrooms, which means packing your own dog bed. The point raised most often by guests who brought a dog is that the grounds are open rather than enclosed: with no secure fencing, a dog without reliable recall cannot simply be let out. Dog-owning guests have said the dog-friendly billing should make that clear up front.

The other recurring theme is the refundable good-housekeeping deposit paid directly to the owner. Guests with dogs have reported that its terms were not spelled out, with no written conditions for its return and no inventory of existing marks, and that this coloured the week. Agreeing in writing what the deposit covers before you arrive is a sensible precaution.

Set against that, the house earns good marks for space, comfort and position, and the owner is described as helpful and responsive. Carne Mill's 3.9/5 paw rating reflects a property that allows dogs rather than one built around them. It suits a larger group with a steady, well-trained dog who is happy to settle and walk on a lead, and it is not the right choice for anyone hoping to open a door and let a dog run.