Primrose Cottage, Penryn

Primrose Cottage is a warm little terraced cottage in the middle of Penryn, and it has clearly been set up by people who know what arriving with a dog is actually like. Stair gates are provided, so you can keep a dog downstairs or out of a bedroom, and the courtyard garden at the back is fully enclosed. It is paved and modest in size, but secure enough to let a dog out without a lead while you make the tea.

Up to two pets can stay. Guests travelling with dogs consistently mention how clean the cottage is despite the pet policy, with no lingering smell or hair left from previous stays, and the log burner and comfortable beds earn as much praise as the dog arrangements do.

Position is the other draw. The cottage is within walking distance of Penryn's shops, pubs and river quays, with Falmouth a long walk or a short drive away and the whole of the south Cornish coast within easy reach for beach and coast-path days. Guests with dogs come back to the beach-to-beach coastal walks around Falmouth more than anything else.

Two things are worth knowing before booking. A footpath runs very close to the cottage, so a dog that barks at footsteps and voices will hear plenty of both. It is a quiet alley rather than a busy street, but the sound carries and it unsettles some dogs for the first night or two. There is also no green space immediately outside, so the first walk of the day means a few streets before you reach anywhere a dog can properly stretch out. The stairs are steep, which is worth a thought for an older or arthritic dog as much as for people.

At 4.4/5, Primrose Cottage suits dog owners who want a self-catering base with the Cornish coast on the doorstep and do not mind a bit of town noise. It is a poorer fit for a dog that reacts to every passer-by.