Peaceful Paradise, Hele Bay

Peaceful Paradise is a self-catering holiday caravan tucked into Hele Valley Holiday Park, a wooded valley just outside Ilfracombe on the north Devon coast. The setting is what makes it work for dogs: a nature reserve walk starts on the park itself, the South West Coast Path is minutes away, and Hele Bay's small beach, cafe and pub are close enough to reach on foot.

Dogs are welcome, and the house rules are the ordinary ones you would expect on a holiday park rather than anything restrictive. Dogs stay on a lead around the park and should not be left alone in the caravan, and owners are asked to clear up after them. Confirm any pet charge with the owner when you book.

Guests travelling with dogs pick out the walking above everything else: the reserve loop on site for a quick morning outing, and the coast path heading east towards Hillsborough and Combe Martin when you want something longer. The wider picture is of an attentive owner who keeps in touch, including through a stay disrupted by storm damage, and a caravan that arrives stocked with bedding, towels, WiFi and fresh milk.

Two things are worth weighing. A lingering dog smell has been mentioned, which is the trade-off at a property that takes dogs, and worth packing for if you are sensitive to it. The kitchen is also lightly equipped, with guests finding basic seasonings and small utensils missing, so bring your own if you plan to cook properly.

Ilfracombe is about twenty minutes' walk or a short drive away, so you get a quiet village base with a proper town within reach. It earns a 4.5/5 paw rating and suits couples and families who want walking from the door and do not mind a holiday-park setting over a town-centre one.