Promenade Cottage, Newcastle, County Down

Promenade Cottage sits on the seafront at Newcastle, County Down, with the Mourne Mountains rising behind the town, and it is hard to think of a better-placed base in Northern Ireland for a walking dog. Guests with dogs come back to two things: the view, and the fact that the mountains and the beach are both reachable on foot.

The cottage is a whole-property let, and the small enclosed area at the front is the feature dog owners single out. It is somewhere a dog can sit out with you and watch the sea rather than be shut indoors, and on a promenade that is worth having. It is a hard-surfaced space rather than a lawn, though, and owners who wanted grass for a dog to use last thing at night have had to walk out for it. Nothing about pet fees, numbers or breed rules is published on the listing, so agree those with the owner when you book.

The welcome is the other thing guests keep raising. A hamper on arrival, careful attention to what a party might need, and quick, warm communication from the owner all recur, and the interior is consistently described as clean, comfortable and thoughtfully put together.

For walking, the Mournes start a short drive away and Donard Forest and the Newcastle end of the Mourne Wall are close enough for a proper day out. The town itself is a walk along the promenade, with the beach immediately opposite the cottage.

A few practical notes. The beds are firm, which suits some people and not others. Parking is not guaranteed on the promenade and can be hit and miss at busy times. The steps at the back have a handrail for only part of their length, which is worth knowing if you are managing luggage and a lead at the same time.

Best suited to owners who want mountains and sea in the same day and will happily walk a dog out to grass, rather than those who need a secure lawn on site.