Longsands Lodge, Tynemouth

Longsands Lodge is a large self-catering apartment in the middle of Tynemouth, the seaside town at the mouth of the Tyne, and it is set up for dogs more thoughtfully than most. There is a wet room for hosing down dogs and wellies after the beach, dog bowls and a dog bed already in the property, and rugs through the living space - practical touches that make the difference at the end of a sandy walk.

Up to three dogs are allowed per booking, which is unusually generous, and the house rules that come with it are firm and clearly stated: dogs stay out of the bedrooms and bathrooms, off the beds and off all the furniture, they must not be left alone in the property at any point, and every trace of them needs clearing from inside and out before you leave. If your dog expects to sleep on the bed, this is not the stay for it.

The location does most of the work. Both of Tynemouth's beaches, including the long sweep of Longsands, are a short walk, as are the shops, restaurants and the Metro, and a residents' parking permit is left in the property. The apartment is genuinely big - groups of six adults and two children with dogs have fitted comfortably - and guests arrive to a welcome pack, with a responsive owner on the end of the phone.

Be clear about what it is, though. It is an apartment above a parade of shops rather than the detached cottage some guests expected, reached through a shared yard and up two flights of stairs, and there is no garden, so every toilet trip is a walk. Guests have also reported draughty windows in winter, beds and bedding that vary in comfort, and occasional plumbing and heating niggles. None of it stopped people returning year after year, but a dog that struggles with stairs will find the access hard work.

It suits a family or group with up to three dogs who want a roomy, superbly placed coastal base with a proper dog wash by the door, and who do not mind stairs, no garden and a firm set of house rules.