The Captain's House B&B, Looe

The Captain's House is a small guesthouse tucked up on Shutta, the steep lane running above Looe's harbour, and it is set up for dogs in the way that only an owner-run place tends to be. Rooms are individually furnished, the welcome is personal, and the whole thing is close enough to town that a dog walk before breakfast is a five-minute stroll rather than a drive.

The dog-friendly touches are the part guests with pets mention most: a blanket and a bowl waiting in the room, and hosts who greet a dog rather than tolerate one. Dogs are welcome in the bedrooms, and the small scale of the place means there is no lobby to negotiate or lift to share. The property lists a pet basket and bowls among its facilities, but publishes no pet fee and no limit on numbers, so confirm any charge and how many dogs are allowed when you book.

Looe suits dog owners well. The town is a ten-minute walk downhill, the beach around five minutes beyond that, and the South West Coast Path picks up in both directions from the harbour for longer walks. The railway station sits at the bottom of the road, which is useful given how tight parking is - the guesthouse has only a couple of spaces and guests regularly report having to use the station car park or park over the bridge.

Two caveats worth knowing. Breakfast is served at a single shared table, and when the house is full that means eating elbow to elbow with other guests and sometimes their dogs, which will not suit everyone. And while most guests rate the rooms highly, some have found them over-furnished and a little dated for the price, with the occasional report of a musty, old-building smell that guests put down to dogs being allowed in the rooms. For dog owners who like a small, characterful guesthouse and do not mind a hill and a shared breakfast, The Captain's House earns a 4.5 out of 5 paw rating.