Fishtail House, Hornsea

Fishtail House is a Victorian house on New Road in Hornsea, split into self-contained apartments a couple of minutes' walk from the seafront and about five from the town centre. This stretch of the East Yorkshire coast is a long open beach with the mere behind it, and the apartments are pitched at short breaks rather than long stays.

Dog owners get a proper welcome here rather than a grudging one. Guests travelling with dogs consistently mention bowls and a blanket set out ready on arrival, and the owners meeting people at the door with the keys and a set of local recommendations. The location does the rest: the beach is close enough for a walk before you unpack, there is a grassed area across the road for the routine jobs, and the parks are a few minutes further. Repeat stays come up often, which for a small pet-friendly property is about the clearest signal there is.

The apartments are not identical, and the differences matter if outdoor space is the deciding factor. Some have a private secure seating area that dog-owning guests rate highly, while at least one has no private outdoor space at all, so confirm which apartment you are booking. Where there is a garden area the steps down to it are steep and turn slippery in the wet, which is worth knowing with an older dog.

Cooking facilities vary too. Several apartments run on a microwave, kettle, toaster and fridge with a continental breakfast hamper provided rather than a full cooker, so if you cook fresh food for the dog you will want to check what is fitted. Guests have also asked for a little more lighting in the living areas.

Best suited to a couple or a solo traveller with one or two dogs wanting a short seaside break with the beach and parks in walking distance, provided you confirm which apartment you are getting and what outdoor space comes with it.