Gilly's Cottage, Hope Cove

Gilly's Cottage sits at Thornlea Mews in Hope Cove, a small South Hams village on the Devon coast about four miles west of Salcombe. The village is the draw: two sheltered coves, a shop, a couple of places to eat, and the coast path running straight through, which gives you as much or as little walking as you want without getting back in the car.

One small dog is welcome. The garden and the grassy fields beyond it are shared with the other properties at the mews rather than private to the cottage, so a dog that needs its own enclosed space to be let out unsupervised will not find one here.

Guests with dogs are positive about how the cottage handles them, describing it as well set up for the purpose, with the beach and the coast path close enough for morning and evening walks. Inside it is bright, clean and comfortably fitted out, with a bath as well as a walk-in shower, and access is by key code with clear instructions rather than a host meeting you.

There are some real caveats. Hot water is the most persistent one, with several guests finding it runs short, which is worth planning around if you are washing a wet and sandy dog as well as yourselves. The rug has been reported as smelling of dog on at least one stay, which is the trade-off at a property that takes them. The cottage also sits in the corner of a parking area, which the photographs do not make obvious, and guests expecting a standalone country cottage have been surprised by it. On the other hand, earlier complaints about the fit-out appear to have been acted on.

It earns a 4.5/5 paw rating and suits couples or a small family with one dog who want a coastal village base with walking from the door, and who will not mind a shared garden.