Spacious House with Balcony and Garden, Marazion

This is a whole house on Turnpike Road in Marazion, a few minutes on foot from the village and the causeway across to St Michael's Mount, with a balcony looking over the bay towards the castle. For a dog owner the decisive feature is the garden: it is properly fenced, and guests travelling with dogs pick it out as the thing that made the stay work, somewhere a dog can be let out first thing without a lead.

Inside, the house is set up for a group rather than a couple, with a kitchen guests describe as unusually well equipped, a dining table beside it, comfortable sofas and beds, a bath as well as a shower, a dishwasher and a washing machine. Gates are fitted at the top and bottom of the stairs and work for a dog as readily as for a child, which makes it straightforward to keep a dog downstairs overnight. There is a lot of parking directly in front, which is worth more than it sounds in a village where roadside space is tight through the summer. The owner comes in for consistent praise on communication and on making small adjustments without fuss.

The location needs one adjustment of expectations. The house sits slightly outside the village centre, and dog owners have not found a walking shortcut down to the coast, so reaching the coast path means a short drive to a car park rather than a stroll from the door. The village itself is an easy five minutes on foot.

Not every stay has gone that way, and the criticism that exists is worth reading first. Carpets have been described as dingy and in need of cleaning, the shower pushes water out onto the floor, and a large mattress was found to sag towards one side. A smell resembling pet urine has also been reported through the property, which matters most if you are arriving with a dog of your own, since a lingering animal smell is the thing most likely to unsettle one in an unfamiliar house. That sits against a run of otherwise strongly positive stays, but it is what to check for on arrival.

Best suited to a family or a group with a dog who want a spacious, well equipped base within walking distance of Marazion village, and who are content to drive the short distance to the coast path.