Little Garden Cottage, Tamar Valley

Little Garden Cottage is one of those places where the dog is clearly expected rather than merely tolerated. Guests arriving with a dog find treats, bowls, waste bags, towels and blankets already laid out, along with a paw washer for the mud that a Cornish walk reliably produces. That level of preparation is unusual, and it is the single thing dog owners mention most about staying here.

The cottage sits in the grounds of the owners' own house at Downgate, in the Tamar Valley a few miles from Callington. The owners live on site, meet guests on arrival and hand over local walking and eating notes, then leave people to it - several guests have chosen the spot precisely because they wanted to see nobody for a week. There is a grassed area right outside for the last walk of the day, and a terrace with long views over the valley.

Inside it is small, stylish and spotless, with a comfortable bed and a well-stocked kitchen. Older guests have found the seating as comfortable as the bed, which is not always a given in a compact holiday let.

For walks, the valley itself is on the doorstep and there is woodland close by. The location works as a base too, with Launceston, Liskeard, Looe, Polperro and Tintagel all reachable without a long drive, and the north and south Cornish coasts roughly equidistant.

Two small things. The wifi is unreliable, which matters if you plan to work; and there is no provision for recycling or for dog waste, so plan to take it away with you. Neither has stopped guests recommending the place.

It suits a couple with one dog who want quiet, views and a genuinely thought-through dog welcome. It earns a 4.7 out of 5 paw rating.