The Balnoon Inn B&B

The Balnoon Inn is a small country inn on the old coach road between St Ives and Penzance, close enough to reach the St Ives beaches in a few minutes by car but far enough out to be genuinely quiet at night. For dog owners that trade-off is the whole appeal: a pub with rooms, a garden and countryside on the doorstep rather than a busy town-centre street.

Dogs are welcome throughout, with up to three pets per booking, and the welcome is warm. Guests travelling with dogs describe hosts who make a proper fuss of them - small dogs have been known to get a sausage with breakfast - and who are relaxed about dogs in the bar and restaurant downstairs. The garden is a real asset, and the walk-then-a-pint rhythm suits dog owners well.

There are practical things to weigh up, and they matter more here than at a bigger property. A charge of around 20 pounds for a dog has been reported and is not flagged on the booking listing, so confirm it when you book. There is no enclosed paddock or secure dog-exercise area, and the car park is open to a well-used road, so a dog that bolts needs holding. The bedrooms are converted attic rooms up two full flights of stairs, which is worth knowing if your dog is elderly, large or needs carrying. Dogs should also not be left barking alone in the rooms.

The inn has changed hands and is being refurbished, and food service has been inconsistent through that period - guests have arrived to find no chef, the bar closed, or a thin continental breakfast in place of a cooked one. The bar and restaurant themselves have been done up and look smart.

At 4.0/5 for pet-friendliness, the Balnoon suits dog owners who want a quiet, informal countryside base near St Ives, are happy with stairs, and would rather have a pub downstairs than resort facilities.