4 Thornlea Mews, Hope Cove

4 Thornlea Mews is a small whole-house holiday let in Hope Cove, a sheltered fishing village on the South Devon coast, and its biggest draw for dog owners sits right outside the front door. The cottages here share a large grassed area, and guests travelling with dogs come back to it again and again as the thing that made the stay work: somewhere safe to throw a ball, eat outside, or let a dog stretch its legs without getting in the car.

The property takes one well behaved dog. Because you have the whole house to yourselves there are no shared corridors or lifts to negotiate, which suits dogs that are unsettled by other guests coming and going. Most people describe the cottage as clean, light and well stocked, with practical extras left out such as camping chairs, a windbreak and torches, plus a welcome pack on arrival. The owner gets warm mentions for being helpful and quick to sort things out.

Hope Cove itself is the reason most people book. The beach is a short walk away, the coast path opens up longer walks to neighbouring coves, and the village shop and post office are close enough to reach on foot with a dog in tow. Parking comes with the property, which matters in a village where roadside space is tight.

The honest caveats are about size rather than the dog welcome. The cottage is compact, and guests with a dog have found there is little floor space to spare for a dog bed once a full party is inside, so it suits a couple or a small family far better than four adults. The shared green is exactly that, shared, so at busy times several dogs from neighbouring cottages may be out at once. Walls between the units are thin, mobile signal is patchy, and the parking spaces are not always free when you arrive.

For a couple or small family with one steady dog who want beach access and open grass on the doorstep, 4 Thornlea Mews earns its 4.2/5 paw rating.