The Little Loft St Ives

The Little Loft sits right in the middle of St Ives, a few minutes' walk from the harbour front and close enough to the beaches that a morning walk needs no planning at all. It is a compact apartment rather than a hotel, which suits dog owners who would rather not negotiate shared corridors and lifts, and the owners keep spare dog bowls and a ball at the flat for anyone who has left theirs at home.

That small gesture is the thing dog owners tend to remember. Guests travelling with dogs describe the flat as spotless on arrival and well stocked for a short break, and the welcome extends to pets rather than merely tolerating them.

The location does most of the work. Barnoon car park is the closest option, which matters more than it sounds in St Ives - parking is genuinely difficult in season, and you may need to unload there and park elsewhere. From the flat you are within easy reach of Porthmeor and Porthgwidden beaches, the coast path and the harbour, which gives you options in different weather.

There are caveats worth knowing. Access is through a narrow alleyway, and guests have found this awkward when scaffolding has been up on the neighbouring building - something to check before you arrive if your dog is nervous in tight spaces or you are carrying a lot of kit. Small maintenance faults have also come up, including a fridge door handle, a kitchen blind and an external key lock, though the owners respond quickly when contacted.

With a 4.3/5 paw rating, The Little Loft suits couples with one well-behaved dog who want to be in the centre of St Ives rather than driving in each day. Larger parties, or anyone needing step-free access and parking at the door, would be better served elsewhere.