Longsands Apartment, Tynemouth

Longsands Apartment sits on a quiet residential road in Tynemouth, a few minutes' walk from the beach it takes its name from, and it suits dog owners better than most seaside flats of its size. This is a bright first-floor apartment with two large bedrooms and generous storage, and guests travelling with dogs report fitting four people and two dogs in without feeling squeezed.

The property is straightforwardly dog-friendly rather than dressed up with pet extras. There is no dog package here, and the booking listing doesn't spell out a pet fee or house rules for dogs, so it is worth asking the owner what applies before you book. What guests with dogs single out instead is the position: Longsands beach is roughly five minutes on foot in one direction, and Tynemouth's Front Street, with its run of pubs, bars and cafes, is a similar walk the other way. A good number of those places welcome dogs, which makes it easy to spend a wet afternoon somewhere other than the flat.

Tynemouth is a strong base for a dog holiday in its own right. Longsands and King Edward's Bay, the pier and the priory headland all sit within walking distance, and the coastal path north towards Whitley Bay gives you a proper morning route without needing the car.

Two practical caveats come up often enough to mention. Guests have found the beds less comfortable than expected, particularly the mattresses and the bed linen, and the cordless vacuum in the flat has been reported as holding no charge, which is an irritation if you are travelling with a dog and want to tidy up after yourself. Neither is a dealbreaker, but the second is worth packing around.

Overall it earns a 4.5/5 paw rating: a spacious, well-invested coastal apartment for a family or a group with a couple of dogs, best suited to people who want beach walks and dog-friendly pubs on the doorstep rather than hotel-style pet services.