Rock Rose, Downderry

Rock Rose is a large house above the sea at Downderry on the south-east Cornwall coast, and the view is the reason people book it. For dog owners the bigger draw is what sits either side of it: the beaches at Downderry and Seaton are within walking distance and guests consistently report them as dog friendly, with the coast path and Seaton Valley Countryside Park giving longer routes straight from the door. Seasonal dog restrictions apply on many Cornish beaches, so check the dates for the weeks you are travelling.

Up to two pets can stay. The house takes big groups, and parties of eight with a dog or two are common, with enough room inside that nobody ends up on top of anyone else.

The outside space is the thing to plan around. This is a house built into a slope rather than a cottage with a lawn. The decked terrace is where everyone sits, it is not gated, and the drop is onto the road, so a dog that bolts has somewhere to bolt to. The garden itself is small and there is nowhere for a dog to properly run. Steep steps lead down to the property, which groups travelling with older relatives found hard work and which is worth weighing for a dog with mobility problems too. Guests have also found the house rules around dogs stricter than they expected for a property that markets itself as dog friendly.

Cleaning has drawn criticism more than once, including dog hair left from a previous stay that set off an allergy, and the downstairs bedroom and bathroom carry a damp smell that guests flag as unsuitable for anyone with asthma. Set against that, the view, the space and the kit inside the house get near-unanimous praise, and the caretaker responds quickly when something breaks.

Rock Rose suits an extended family or group of friends with road-sensible dogs who want beach and coast-path days rather than a secure garden to let a dog loose in. It earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.