Talland House, Polperro

Talland House is a cottage in the centre of Polperro, a few minutes from the harbour, and its appeal for dog owners is almost entirely about what is outside the door. The South West Coast Path runs through the village, with the routes east towards Looe and west towards Fowey both starting from here, and the village is small enough that a dog is welcome in most of it, including the pub a short walk away.

The cottage itself is a comfortable, spacious, characterful old building, well equipped for self-catering, with the whole place let to one party. Guests travelling with pets describe it as a straightforwardly dog-friendly base, close to a good food shop and the harbour front.

Two practical constraints matter more here than at most cottages, and both should shape whether you book. Polperro's centre is closed to cars, so the nearest public car park is a ten to fifteen minute walk away, uphill on the return. That is manageable, but a genuine effort with luggage and a dog, and it is the thing guests travelling alone with a pet find hardest. Guests also report being asked not to leave dogs unattended in the property, which rules out the evening out that dog owners often plan around. If your dog cannot be left, confirm the position with the owner before you commit.

On condition, the cottage divides opinion. It is clean and well stocked by most accounts, but several guests have found it dated and in need of updating, with mould in one bathroom and a dryer out of action, and dog hair picked up underfoot despite nothing being visible. It holds 9.0/10 overall, so the picture is good rather than uniform.

Best suited to a couple or a small group with one dog who want coast path walking straight from the door and are content to park up the hill. Talland House earns a 4.2/5 paw rating.