Sea Breeze - Mount Brioni

Sea Breeze sits high above the water at Mount Brioni in Downderry, and the reason dog owners keep coming back is simple: the beach is about a hundred yards away, and the bay below is the sort of quiet, unspoilt stretch of south-east Cornwall coast that most people picture when they plan a dog holiday. Guests travelling with dogs describe it as an easy, unfussy place to bring one - clean, well kept, and set up so a dog has somewhere to run rather than being confined to a room.

Dogs are welcomed here rather than merely tolerated. Owners have brought two at a time without difficulty, and the open ground around the building gives them space to play before you head down to the sand. Being self-catering takes most of the friction out of travelling with a dog: there are no shared corridors to negotiate, no dining room rules, and you can plan the day around walks rather than mealtimes. The hosts draw consistent praise for warm, quick communication before arrival, which helps when you are sorting out parking and access with a dog in the car.

The setting does most of the work. Sea views run across the front of the apartment, guests regularly mention hearing the water from inside, and the beach, a beach cafe and village pubs are all within a short walk. Downderry also makes a sensible base for driving on into the rest of the county with a dog in tow.

Two things are worth planning around. The walk back up from the beach is a proper hill, which is fine for most dogs but harder work if yours is elderly or you end up carrying a small one. And this is a small village, so food deliveries can be unreliable over bank holidays - bring what you need rather than assuming a takeaway. Furnishings draw the odd grumble too, with a soft sofa and a soft bed both mentioned more than once. It is also worth checking current seasonal dog restrictions on the beach before a summer trip. For a coastal break where the dog gets the run of the day, Sea Breeze earns its 4.6/5 paw rating.