Longsands Beach Apartment 1, Tynemouth

Longsands Beach Apartment 1 sits on Percy Park in Tynemouth, directly across the road from Longsands beach - which is the single biggest reason to bring a dog here. You can be on the sand within a minute of leaving the front door, and Tynemouth village, with its Front Street cafes and shops, is a short walk in the other direction. Parking is free and on site, so there is no circling for a space with a restless dog in the back.

The apartment is spacious, warm and well furnished, and guests travelling with dogs are positive about it as a base. Two practical points come up often enough to plan around, though. The first is outdoor space: a courtyard garden behind the back bedroom, which appears in some of the listing photographs, has since been converted into a car port, so there is no private enclosed area outside. Owners counting on somewhere quiet for an anxious dog to settle have been disappointed to find it gone.

The second is clearing up. Guests with dogs have found the vacuum out of action and been unable to tidy up after them as they normally would, so it is worth checking one is working on arrival, or bringing a brush of your own. Dust behind the bedroom drawers has drawn the odd complaint, and the flat reads as slightly tired to some guests despite the location.

The property does not publish its pet terms, so confirm how many dogs are allowed and whether a charge applies when you book. Noise from nearby bars can carry at night, which may unsettle a light-sleeping dog. Dog access on this stretch of coast varies through the year, so check the current signage on the beach before you go.

Best suited to dog owners who want beach access above all else and do not need a secure garden - a seafront base for long sand walks, with the trade-off that the flat itself is good rather than exceptional. It earns a 4.2/5 paw rating.