Okewoon Barn, Luxulyan

Okewoon Barn is a secluded farmhouse-style property outside Luxulyan in mid Cornwall, set in its own grounds with gardens and orchards, and it is the land around it that makes it work for dogs. Guests arriving with dogs describe walking them straight out into quiet fields and orchards with no neighbours in sight, which is a different proposition from a town rental where every walk starts with a lead and a pavement.

The barn is let as a whole house, so there is nothing shared and no other guests to think about. It is roomy and comfortably furnished rather than modern, with a large kitchen and plenty of space for a family and their dogs to spread out. Guests travelling with dogs consistently mention the peace and the amount of ground to walk on as the reasons they would come back.

The position is genuinely central for Cornwall. The property sits between the two coasts, with the north coast and the south coast both a manageable drive, so you can pick your beach by the wind. It is remote, but the nearest village with a pub, a shop and a chip shop is about five minutes by car.

A few practical things matter more than usual here. Towels are not supplied, which has caught out several parties who had already packed bed linen, so bring your own and pack spares if your dog swims. The lane entrance is poorly signed and hard to spot, so it is worth pinning the exact spot before you set off, and guests have flagged that pulling back out onto the road has poor visibility. A musty, shut-up smell in the house comes up in a number of reviews, and the fittings are dated enough that the occasional light or appliance has been out of action.

At a 4.4 out of 5 paw rating from three guests who brought dogs, Okewoon Barn suits people who want space and quiet over polish, and whose dogs would rather have an orchard than a promenade.