Neverndale, Newport

Neverndale is the kind of Pembrokeshire holiday house that suits a dog almost by accident of geography. It stands directly on the coastal path, a short walk from Newport's beach, estuary and salt marsh, with the town's shops and pubs about ten minutes away on foot. Being a whole house rather than a room in a shared building, there are no corridors or lifts to negotiate, and it comes with parking, which is not a given in Newport.

Up to two pets can stay. The garden is what guests with dogs talk about most: large, well kept, with a decked seating area, and enclosed well enough that most parties are happy to let a dog out into it. It is not flawless, though, and the details matter. There is a steep drop of four or five feet near the house that is not fenced off, which parties travelling with an older or less sure-footed dog have flagged as a hazard. The internal door to the stairs has a catch weak enough that a determined dog can nudge it open. And there is no rear access, so a wet, sandy dog coming off the beach has to come in through the main part of the house.

Inside, the house is spacious, comfortable and well equipped, with plenty of books and games and a kitchen set up for cooking properly. Guests visiting outside the summer sometimes find it cool and slightly damp on arrival, though it warms through within a day and stays cosy after that.

Neverndale earns a 4.8/5 paw rating and suits families or groups bringing one or two dogs who want beach, coastal path and town all within walking distance. Bring an old towel for sandy paws, and take a look at that garden drop before you let a dog loose in it.