Bankside, Hope Cove

Bankside is a single-storey bungalow in a quiet residential cul-de-sac at Outer Hope, about ten minutes' walk above Hope Cove on the South Devon coast. The rear garden is fully enclosed and a decent size, the main rooms have hard floors rather than carpet, and the position puts a dog-friendly beach, the coast path and pubs that welcome dogs all within walking distance. Up to two dogs can stay, at £25 per dog per week.

There are house rules worth reading before booking. Dogs are not allowed on the sofa and not in the bedrooms, so a dog used to sleeping beside its owner will be settling in the open-plan living area instead. There is also nothing in the house that acknowledges dogs, no bowls, towels or bedding, so bring your own.

The garden needs a check on arrival. It has gates on both sides, and dog owners have repeatedly found one of them unlocked, too low, or coming apart; more than one says their dog would have got out had they not checked first. Walk the boundary before letting a dog off the lead.

The other honest note is condition. The bungalow is comfortable and well equipped but visibly dated in places, and the changeover clean is inconsistent: guests have arrived to dog hair left across curtains and soft furnishings, mess in the grounds from a previous stay, and sitting-room furniture in need of a deep clean. It is far from universal, and plenty of guests describe the place as spotless, but it happens often enough to flag.

Two practical points. The driveway is very steep with a sharp crown that grounds low cars, and many guests end up parking on the road instead. Mobile signal is poor, though the wifi works well. Taken together it earns a 4.6/5 paw rating: a genuinely good base for a dog holiday at Hope Cove, provided you check the gates and bring your own dog kit.