Cozy Coastal Getaway

Cozy Coastal Getaway is a self-catering flat on Tynemouth Road, and its value for a dog owner is almost entirely about where it sits. Northumberland Park is two minutes on foot for the first walk of the day, Tynemouth's long sandy beach is an easy stroll, and North Shields Fish Quay is close by. There is a bus stop outside the door and the Metro is roughly ten minutes away, so the car can stay parked.

Dogs are charged an extra fee, which the owner confirms at booking rather than stating a set amount up front, so agree it before you travel.

The flat itself is spacious and well equipped, with comfortable beds, a full kitchen and a washing machine, which makes it practical after a wet day on the beach. The owner leaves a few welcome touches, and guests rate it good value for the space.

What needs weighing is everything outside the front door. The rear yard is shared, is not secure, and is described repeatedly as scruffy: rubbish, broken glass and dog mess have all been reported out there, so it is not a space to let a dog into, on or off the lead. A dog kept in the flat below barks persistently, through the day and often through the night, and this comes up in review after review. If your own dog reacts to barking, or you need to sleep, that is the deciding factor. Cigarette smoke drifting up from downstairs and steep stairs to the flat are also worth knowing about, and the flat sits on a main road rather than a quiet side street.

At 4.1/5, this suits a dog owner who intends to be out walking the park, the beach and the coast path, and who wants a comfortable, well-placed base to come back to rather than any usable outdoor space of its own. Anyone with a noise-sensitive dog should look elsewhere on this stretch of coast.