The Shack, Mawgan Porth

The Shack is a low-slung self-catering bungalow on the hillside above Mawgan Porth, a small beach village on the north Cornwall coast between Newquay and Padstow. The draw for anyone travelling with a dog is the walk: about five minutes downhill to the sand, and Mawgan Porth is one of the Cornish beaches that stays open to dogs all year rather than shutting them out over the summer months. The village pub, shop and a couple of places to eat sit at the bottom of the same hill, and the South West Coast Path runs along the cliffs on either side.

The property takes one well-behaved dog. There is no charge, weight limit or breed rule on the listing, so anything beyond that single dog is worth settling with the owner before you book.

The setting does most of the work. Guests travelling with dogs describe a private plot with a large open garden and room to park a couple of cars, and several have returned for a second or third stay on the strength of the position alone.

Two things need flagging. The garden and driveway are open rather than enclosed, and the listing makes no claim that they are secure. Dog owners raise it consistently: some have rigged a temporary barrier to stop a dog heading up the drive, and others were wary of the drop into the bushes down the hillside. A dog with solid recall will be fine, but a young or bolty one needs watching or a lead. The lounge carpet shown in older listing photographs has since been replaced with laminate, which guests found slippery for their dog. On upkeep, the bungalow is comfortable but tired in places, with hard mattresses and dated furnishings coming up often, and reviews mention a lingering dog smell in the lounge that grew more noticeable as the week went on.

Best suited to dog owners who want the beach on the doorstep and a relaxed, lived-in base, and who would rather have the position than a polished interior.