1 Florence Place, Falmouth

1 Florence Place is a period townhouse a short walk from the middle of Falmouth, and dogs are clearly a normal part of life here rather than something the owners put up with. You take the whole house, so there is nothing to negotiate with a dog in tow, and the enclosed garden behind it is the detail that comes up in almost every review from someone travelling with one.

That garden matters because it is properly secure. Dogs can be let out without a lead, which turns the first and last half hour of the day from a job into a non-event, and it is a pleasant space in its own right, with room for people to sit while the dog potters about. Guests arriving with dogs tend to find a large dog bed already made up and treats tucked into the welcome hamper alongside the usual Cornish goodies.

Up to two pets are allowed per booking. The listing does not publish a pet charge, so it is worth asking when you book if that matters to your budget. The house itself is beautifully decorated and unusually well equipped, spread over several floors, with sea glimpses from the upper rooms and a homely feel that guests mention over and over.

The location does a lot of the work. The town, harbour, ferries, restaurants and local beaches are all walkable, on-street parking is generally findable once you know the surrounding streets, and there is good dog walking in every direction. Two honest snags come up in reviews: there is no outdoor bin for used waste bags, and occasional maintenance problems, a dropped boiler pressure and a tripped fuse among them, have to go through the managing agent, with a wait of a day reported for one of them.

It suits couples, families and small groups with one or two dogs who want a stylish Falmouth base with a garden of their own, and it earns a 4.8/5 paw rating.