Apartment One (Ocean City Retreats, Plymouth)

Apartment One is a ground-floor flat on Outland Road in Plymouth with a large park directly across the street and its own private parking, a combination that removes most of the small frustrations of bringing a dog to a city. There is a single step to get in and no stairs beyond it, so an older or short-legged dog manages the front door without help.

Up to two dogs can stay. Let the owners know when you book rather than on the day, since the arrangement is made in advance. The flat is self-contained with its own entrance, so there are no shared corridors or lobbies to walk a dog through, and the washer-dryer earns its place after a wet walk on the coast.

Guests arriving with dogs consistently describe the place as spotless, comfortable and properly equipped, and the practical points get mentioned as often as the decor: the parking, the ground-floor access, the park opposite. Outland Road itself is busy, but the flat sits at the back of the building and guests are repeatedly surprised by how quiet it is. The wider guest score is 9.7 out of 10, which is high for the price bracket.

The one thing it does not have is a garden. Toilet breaks mean crossing the road to the park, which is quick enough, but it is a lead walk every time rather than opening a back door, worth knowing if you have a dog that needs the garden at three in the morning. There is outdoor seating in the parking area for sitting out with a dog on a fine evening.

Best suited to a couple or a solo traveller with one or two dogs who want a low-friction Plymouth base with parking sorted and green space across the road. It earns a 4.6 out of 5 paw rating.