2 Armada House, Hope Cove

2 Armada House sits right on the front at Outer Hope, a few steps from the harbour beach and next door to the village pub. For a dog it is about as convenient a base as Hope Cove offers: you can be off the doorstep and onto the sand in under a minute, and the South West Coast Path runs out of the village in both directions, towards Bolt Tail one way and Thurlestone the other.

The one thing to be clear about before you book is that there is no garden and no outdoor space of any kind. Guests travelling with dogs raise it consistently, and it is the single point most likely to decide whether the apartment suits you. In practice most parties find the beach opposite does the job, but if your dog needs a secure patch to be let out into last thing at night, this is not the property for it. Devon beaches often carry seasonal dog restrictions between May and September, so it is worth checking the current dates for the cove before travelling in high summer.

Inside, the apartment is well equipped and comfortable, with a washing machine and dishwasher that earn their keep after a wet walk, and dog owners rate it as easy to bring a sandy dog back into. The property takes one pet per booking.

The trade-off for the location is noise. One bedroom backs onto the kitchen of the pub next door, and guests report music and extractor noise from early morning until mid-evening, along with cooking smells carrying in. Sound also travels from the apartment above. A dog that settles easily will not notice; a nervous or noise-sensitive one might.

Best suited to a couple or a family of four with one settled, beach-loving dog who want to walk everywhere and can live without a garden. On that basis 2 Armada House earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.