Bight Boathouse, Dartmouth

Bight Boathouse sits right above the River Dart, a whole-house holiday let in Dartmouth that you book in its entirety rather than by the room. That private, self-contained set-up is a big part of why it suits dogs so well: there are no shared corridors or reception areas to work around, just your own space with far-reaching views over the estuary and an easy walk down into town.

The property's booking listing notes that one well-behaved dog is welcome. Some guests over the years have travelled here with more than one dog, so if you are planning to bring a pair it is worth confirming the current limit directly before you book. Because this is a self-catering house rather than a hotel, a dog is simply part of the party here rather than something to manage around other guests.

Dartmouth itself is a genuinely dog-friendly base. The estuary-side paths, the passenger ferry across the Dart and the network of coastal and riverside walks give you plenty of options for a morning stroll, and many of the town's cafes and pubs are used to four-legged visitors. Owners travelling with dogs consistently single out the views and the sheer amount of room, indoors and out, as the things that make a stay here relaxed with pets in tow.

A note of balance: this is a characterful older house, and some guests have found it tired in places, with wear to carpets and soft furnishings that dog owners will want to factor in. Bringing your own throws for the sofas and keeping muddy paws to the hard floors is sensible, as it would be in any well-used holiday home.

Bight Boathouse earns a paw rating of 4.4 out of 5. It is best suited to larger groups and families who want a spacious, private Devon base where dogs can settle in comfortably and the coast and town are both close at hand.