The Old Beach Store

The Old Beach Store sits right above the sand at Sennen Cove, at the far western tip of Cornwall, and it is the kind of place where the dog walk starts the moment you close the front door. It is a whole house let rather than a room in a shared building, so there are no corridors, lifts or other guests to negotiate, and the sea fills the windows from almost every room.

The owner allows one well behaved dog, and the patio is enclosed, which is a genuinely useful detail on a coastal property: it means a dog can go out for five minutes without a lead while you make the coffee. Guests travelling with dogs describe the surrounding walks as the highlight of the stay, with the coast path running in both directions from the cove and miles of open cliff between Sennen and Land's End.

The location does most of the work here. Sennen Cove beach is a few steps away, and the Old Success Inn and the beach bar are both a short stroll, which makes it easy to eat out without leaving a dog behind at the house. Inside, the house is well presented, with a comfortable bed, a good kitchen and that view from the bifold doors.

Two caveats are worth knowing. Guest feedback has flagged upkeep on the outdoor space, with dog hair building up between the patio glass panels, weathered garden furniture and some tired detailing in the bathroom, so it is worth a quick look round on arrival if that would bother you. And Sennen is genuinely remote: several local shops close out of season, so stock up in Penzance on the way down.

Best suited to a couple or a small family with one settled dog who want the beach on the doorstep rather than town amenities. It earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.