Dawson's Corner Retreat, Beadnell

Dawson's Corner Retreat is a single-storey bungalow in Beadnell, a quiet village on the Northumberland coast, and the enclosed back garden is the thing dog owners keep coming back to. It is a proper boundary rather than a token fence, which means a dog can be let out first thing without a lead and without a negotiation - rarer than it should be in coastal holiday lets.

The owners take up to two dogs. No size limit or breed restriction is published, and nothing is stated about a pet fee, so confirm both when you book if you are travelling with a large breed. Everything else about the property is built for it: one floor throughout, no stairs, a ramp into the kitchen through the garage, no shared entrance, and rooms that guests consistently describe as clean, comfortable and well equipped. For an elderly dog, or one recovering from something, that level access does more work than any amount of pet-friendly branding.

Beadnell itself does a lot of the work too. The beach is about five minutes on foot, the pubs are the same, and there is a well-stocked village shop so you are not driving out for supplies. Guests with dogs describe the village as an easy one to walk around, which for a coastal spot in high season is worth something.

The one caveat raised is the outdoor space itself. The enclosed patio area is genuinely useful for a small dog, but it has been described as needing a little care and attention, so do not expect it to be immaculate. Inside, the kitchen has no conventional oven, which catches people out if you had planned to cook properly after a long day on the sand.

Best suited to a couple or a small family with one or two dogs who want a level, secure base within walking distance of a beach. It earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.