Ivy Cottage, Lostwithiel

Ivy Cottage is a small terraced cottage on King Street in the middle of Lostwithiel, let as a whole house to one party, and it is about as easy a dog-friendly base as Cornwall offers. Couples travelling with one or two dogs make up most of the guests who mention pets, and the verdict is consistent: comfortable, cosy, well equipped and genuinely happy to have a dog in it.

The detail that matters most is the small enclosed garden at the back. It means the first trip out in the morning is not a walk down a street at dawn, which is the single thing that makes a town-centre cottage workable with a dog. Beyond that, Lostwithiel is compact enough to cover on foot, the Fowey valley and the grounds around Restormel Castle just north of the town give you proper walks within minutes, and the pub directly opposite looks after the cottage on the owners' behalf, serves breakfast and provides the parking.

Size is the thing to be honest about. This is a cottage for two people and a small dog, or a pair of small dogs - a dachshund and a couple fits comfortably, a large breed would find it tight. Guests staying a full week have had no complaints on that score, so it does not feel cramped in use, but do not book it expecting room for a big dog to stretch out.

The one recurring caveat is housekeeping rather than the cottage itself. A stay by guests who had no dog of their own turned up dog hair left in the bedroom and lounge from a previous party, along with a dirty kitchen utensil drawer and mould on the fridge seal. Most stays describe the place as spotless, so this reads as an inconsistent changeover rather than the norm, but it is worth raising with the pub next door on arrival if you find it. For a couple with a small dog exploring the Fowey estuary and mid-Cornwall, Ivy Cottage is a well-judged, well-priced choice and earns its 4.6 out of 5 paw rating.