Ship Inn, Tresaith

The Ship Inn sits right above the sand at Tresaith, a small clifftop inn on the Ceredigion coast in West Wales, where a waterfall spills onto the beach and the bay opens straight out to the sea. It is one of the more straightforwardly dog-welcoming places to stay on this stretch of coast, and owners travelling with dogs describe being made to feel every bit as welcome as their pets.

The inn keeps a specific dog-friendly room type, so it is worth booking one of those rather than a standard room. Beyond the bedrooms, the property confirms that dogs are welcome in the bar and the beer garden, which is what makes it work for people who would rather not eat separately from their dog. Staff come up again and again as warm, helpful and relaxed about pets, and several owners single out that easy, unfussy welcome as a highlight of the stay.

Location is the other big draw. Rooms look out over the bay, the glass-fronted restaurant shares the same view, and the beach and coast path are a few steps from the door - easy, straight-from-the-door walking for dogs that love sand and sea. The one practical thing to plan around is parking: on-site spaces are very limited, and the overflow car park is a five-minute walk up a steep hill, with cars needing to be moved by 11pm. It is worth mentioning to staff on arrival if you need a space, as several guests managed to sort one out that way.

Two things are worth checking before you book. There is a separate Ship Inn in nearby Aberporth, the next bay along, and some booking sites have sent guests to the wrong one - the dog-friendly inn described here is the one at Tresaith itself. Any pet fee, size limit or cap on the number of dogs is not published, so ask directly if that matters to your party. It earns a 4.5/5 paw rating, and suits owners after a small, sociable seaside inn where the dog is genuinely part of the trip.