Smugglers, Tenby

Smugglers is a self-catering cottage in the quiet village of Lydstep, a short drive along the coast from Tenby, and it has quietly become a favourite with people who holiday with a dog. You get the whole place to yourselves, with parking right beside the door, which makes unloading a car full of dog beds and towels easy.

The detail guests with dogs keep coming back to is the outdoor space. There is a small gated, fenced garden with a seating area and a pebbled surface, handy for letting a dog potter about while you have a coffee or for keeping it contained at feeding time. It is not completely escape-proof, though: one guest's dog found a way out, so they kept her on the lead from then on. Another noticed the stones around the cottage were a little sharp on their small dog's paws.

Inside, the cottage is described again and again as spotless, comfortable and well equipped, with a roomy living area, good beds and a proper kitchen. A welcome pack of Welsh cakes, tea, coffee, milk and a bottle of fizz is waiting on arrival. The owners live close by, keep out of the way, and are happy to suggest dog-friendly places to eat and visit when asked.

The walking is the real draw. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a few minutes from the door, with views across to Caldey Island, and the headland is the walk everyone tells you to do. The beach is close enough for a muddy morning outing, and longer coastal walks reach Manorbier and Tenby. Tenby itself, ten minutes away by car, has plenty of shops and cafes, some of them happy to see dogs.

A few things to know. The cottage can be hard to find, as the postcode leads to the spa in front of it. It sits close to a working farm where the day starts early, the boiler hums at times, and there is no dishwasher. The village pub keeps limited hours and may only be open at weekends.

For a couple or small family with one dog who want quiet, clean, comfortable digs and cliff-top walks on the doorstep, Smugglers is an easy choice.