Sundowner, Little Petherick

Sundowner is a barn conversion in Little Petherick, a few minutes inland from Padstow, and it is finished to a high standard - underfloor heating, a log burner with logs supplied, good bedding and a kitchen equipped with more or less every utensil you could want. For dog owners the two details that matter most are practical ones: wooden and tiled floors run throughout, so wet paws and sand are no drama, and the back garden is large, private and securely fenced, looking out over a wildflower meadow.

The limit is the number. One well-behaved dog is welcome, not two, which rules the property out for anyone travelling with a pair. Owners of very small dogs should also check the boundary themselves before letting one loose - the fencing is dependable for a normal-sized dog but less certain for a tiny one.

The location earns its keep. There are seven or so dog-friendly beaches within easy reach, along with the coast path, and Padstow, Wadebridge and the Camel Trail are all short drives. The property sits in a courtyard with three other holiday lets, which keeps things quiet in the main but means you are not entirely on your own.

Where it slips is housekeeping, and specifically the dog-related side of it. Because dogs stay here regularly, guests have arrived to find hair from previous stays still in the lounge, dust and debris under the sofas, and on occasion old mess left in the garden where the grass had been allowed to grow long enough to hide it. None of that is universal - plenty of parties describe the place as spotless - but it comes up often enough to mention. The other recurring gripe is gentler: there are printed notes and instructions in every room, which some guests find helpful and others find overbearing.

For a couple or small family with one dog who want a smart, warm, well-equipped base for the north Cornwall beaches, Sundowner is a strong pick at a 4.7/5 paw rating.