The Pirate Inn, Penzance

The Pirate Inn sits on the road between Penzance and Newlyn, and it is a straightforward, good-value base for anyone touring the far west of Cornwall with a dog. Accommodation splits between self-contained pods in the grounds and rooms above the pub, and the pods are the better bet with a dog: each has its own door and a small outdoor seating area, so there is no shared corridor to negotiate at six in the morning.

Dogs are welcome throughout the pub, inside and out, provided they are on a lead, which makes evenings easy - you can eat and have a drink without leaving the dog shut in the room. The inn does not publish a pet charge, so it is worth confirming any fee when you book.

Staff come across as friendly and laid back rather than formal, and check-in is a keys-and-go affair. The location is the strongest card: the walk into Penzance in one direction and down to the fishing harbour at Newlyn in the other is flat and easy on paws, there is a bus stop outside, and parking is rarely a problem, which is more than can be said for the middle of Penzance itself.

Be realistic about what this is. The grounds and outdoor areas have been described as looking tired, and rooms above the bar can be noisy well into the evening when the pub is busy. Breakfast is not included and the kitchen stops serving fairly early. None of that matters much if you are out walking all day, but it is the difference between a cheap, cheerful base and a polished one.

Best suited to owners of easy-going dogs who want a low-cost, walk-everywhere base near Penzance, and who would rather have a pod with its own door than a room over a working bar.