Old Coastguards, Isle of Wight

Old Coastguards sits on Alum Bay Old Road at the western tip of the Isle of Wight, in the parish of Totland, and it is the kind of self-catering base that suits dog owners almost by accident of geography. The downs, the coast and Alum Bay itself are all reachable on foot from the door, and the beach is about five minutes away.

Dogs are accepted, and guests travelling with them have consistently found the cottage easy to live in with a dog in tow. Because it is a whole house rather than a room in a shared building, there are no corridors or lifts to negotiate, and parties have brought more than one dog without difficulty. Owners describe a relaxed, warm and comfortable interior with heating that works properly, which matters out of season when the west of the island is at its best for walking.

The setting is the strongest part of the case. There is a bus route nearby, the mainland ferry is close, and there is a well-liked pub within easy reach, so a car is not compulsory for a dog-led break. Walks start at the property rather than requiring a drive, which counts for more than it sounds when the weather turns.

There are honest caveats. The owner supplies helpful practical information, but several parties have wished for a written guide to how the house works. The cottage is also genuinely hard to find, with no house name visible from the main road or at the property, which has cost arriving guests time. Housekeeping supplies run thin as well: mattress and pillow protectors, cleaning products and enough toilet roll have all been raised, which is worth knowing if your dog is a shedder or a mud-collector and you would normally rely on the house to cover it. Bring your own covers and cleaning kit and none of it is a problem.

Best suited to couples and small families who want a quiet, walk-from-the-door base on the west of the island and are happy to be self-sufficient on supplies. On that basis it earns a 4.4/5 paw rating.