Linhay, Looe

Linhay is a self-catering cottage at Summercourt Cottages in St Martin, a quiet hamlet a couple of miles outside Looe on Cornwall's south coast. It is a whole-cottage let, so a dog has the run of the place with no shared corridors or communal spaces to negotiate, and it works as a good-value base for a seaside week on this stretch of coast.

What dog owners rate here is position and price. The cottage sits within easy reach of Looe itself and of Millendreath, one of the better-known dog-friendly beaches in the area, so a morning on the sand does not need a long drive. Feedback from guests travelling with dogs describes the cottage as charming and reasonably priced, and the whole-property format keeps things simple for anyone with a nervous or reactive dog.

The house rules are clear and worth reading before you book. Up to two dogs are welcome. They must be kept on a lead at all times, they are asked to stay off the furniture, and they must not be left alone in the cottage, which rules out leaving a dog behind while you go out for dinner. No pet charge is published, so ask about that when you book.

One caveat runs against the grain of the otherwise good feedback, and it is a cleanliness one. Reports from at least one changeover describe a lingering wet-dog smell in the living room, a sofa left grubby by a previous dog-owning party, dust and cobwebs behind the furniture that had plainly been missed, and a bathroom sink that would not drain properly. That reads as a lapse rather than the standard, and the off-the-furniture rule exists precisely to prevent it, but it is worth a look round on arrival and a word with the owner if anything needs sorting.

A smaller practical point: the washing machine takes pound coins, so bring some with you. Linhay suits owners after an affordable, uncomplicated cottage near Looe with a dog beach in reach, who are comfortable with a lead-at-all-times rule outdoors.