Smugglers Luxury Accommodation

Smugglers is a small guest house on Lifeboat Plain in Sheringham, a minute's walk from the seafront, and dogs are treated as part of the booking rather than a complication. Parties arriving with two dogs are common, and guests travelling with pets consistently describe the owners as warm and genuinely helpful about it. One detail worth knowing: dog owners have been given a ground-floor apartment room, which is worth asking about when you book.

No pet fee is published, so agree that with the owners directly. Breakfast is included and is one of the most praised things about the place, along with how clean and well kept the rooms are.

The location is the other big draw. The beach and the town are both on the doorstep, so a morning walk needs no driving, and the Norfolk coast path runs through Sheringham for longer outings. Bear in mind that north Norfolk beaches commonly carry seasonal dog restrictions between May and September, so it is worth checking which stretch is open before you set off. The steam railway is also a short walk away.

Two caveats. The stairs are steep, and guests have found them awkward for a dog. Not a barrier, but something to think about with an older or larger one, and another reason to ask about the ground-floor room. And the central position that makes the location so good also brings street noise at night. Parking is not on site: there is free parking a short walk away and a pay and display around the corner. One stay reported the heating and hot water not working properly.

Best suited to dog owners who want a proper seaside bed and breakfast within walking distance of the beach, and who would rather have a cooked breakfast and helpful hosts than a car park at the door.