Bell Cottage, Penzance

Bell Cottage is a four-bedroom holiday house in the grounds of a manor complex a few miles outside Penzance, and it makes a calm, roomy base for a family bringing one dog to the far west of Cornwall. Guests travelling with dogs describe it consistently as clean, spacious and properly equipped, with a cosy lounge, a good kitchen and comfortable bedrooms.

One well-behaved dog is welcome. The setting is quiet: the cottage sits among other properties in the complex with shared parking, so it feels more like a peaceful holiday park than a secluded rural bolthole. The owners come up again and again as responsive and quick to sort anything out, which counts for a lot on a self-catering stay with a pet.

Be clear-eyed about the walking. There is no dog-friendly beach within walking distance: the nearest is about a mile away and the route on foot is a steep road, so almost everyone drives to it. Convenient walks straight from the door are limited, and this is a drive-to-your-walk sort of stay. Once you are in the car, though, Marazion, Sennen, Land's End and the Penwith coast path open up an enormous amount of dog-friendly ground.

Two honest caveats. The outdoor space is smaller and less private than it first looks: one patio sits on the path other guests use to reach their properties, and the other is close to the communal bins and overlooks the car park, so when the bins have been left too long that space becomes unusable in warm weather. And the sofa has drawn complaints for smelling of dogs and carrying stains from earlier stays, so if that would bother you it is worth raising with the owner before arrival.

Overall it suits families and couples who want a clean, well-equipped and quiet cottage with one dog in tow and do not mind a short drive to reach the sand. It earns a 4.4/5 paw rating. Pet charges are not published up front, so check the current amount with the owner when you book.