Camping Pods at Golden Sands Holiday Park, Dawlish

The camping pods at Golden Sands sit on a holiday park at Dawlish Warren, a short walk from the beach, the nature reserve and the station, and the park's attitude to dogs is what brings owners back. Dogs are allowed across most of the site rather than confined to a corner of it, there is a dedicated dog walking area, and the outdoor seating at the park restaurant is open to them. Guests have found their dogs welcome in the club and restaurant into the evening, and the shops and cafes in Dawlish Warren itself take the same line.

Specific pods are set aside as dog friendly, and that distinction matters. Up to two dogs can stay in each one, and breeds and crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act are not accepted. Guests who booked without checking they had a dog-friendly pod have come away with a much dimmer view of how suitable the place is, so make sure the pod itself is one of the designated ones rather than assuming the park's general policy covers you.

Set expectations on the accommodation. A pod is a basic wooden shelter with beds you make up yourself, not a cabin with a kitchen or a bathroom. Showers and toilets are in a shared block on the park, which is a real consideration in the middle of the night and more so if your dog will not settle alone in the pod while you go. Eating on site is expensive, so self-catering or walking into Dawlish Warren works out better.

At 4.4 out of 5 it suits owners who want an inexpensive, outdoors base where the dog can come nearly everywhere with them, and who are relaxed about basic facilities. Anyone wanting a private bathroom or a quiet site should look elsewhere.