Devonair, Westward Ho

Devonair is a modern townhouse in a quiet cul-de-sac on the edge of Westward Ho, the North Devon village that backs onto Northam Burrows and one of the largest beaches on this coast. The seafront, the golf course and the shops are about twenty minutes' walk away on the flat, and Bideford, Barnstaple, Instow and Appledore are all short drives. The house is upside-down, with the kitchen, sitting room and balcony upstairs to make the most of the light.

The dog provision is unusually practical. There is a private enclosed garden at the back, an outdoor hose, and a portable dog shower supplied - the sort of kit that owners of long-haired or beach-loving dogs normally have to pack themselves. Arrivals are met with a Devon cream tea and a dog welcome box holding treats, a tennis ball and a few other bits. Guests also make the point that you would not know dogs stay here: no smells, no marked carpets, no sense of a house that has been given over to them.

Two things are worth knowing before booking. The house rules are visible rather than implied, and not everyone warms to them - feedback includes a marked-down review over the number of notices around the property setting out where a dog may and may not go, with the verdict that it tolerates dogs more than it welcomes them. Whether that reads as fussy or as sensible probably depends on how you feel about signs. The layout has a real quirk too: the only access to the back garden runs through the downstairs bedroom, so once someone is in bed, the last trip out for the dog means going through their room. The stair carpet's colour has also given a dog trouble judging the steps.

Best suited to owners of one well-behaved dog who want a smart, well-equipped base within walking distance of a big North Devon beach, and who would rather have a hose and a dog shower than a set of house rules they never see. Less suited to a party that needs the downstairs bedroom occupied every night, or to an owner who bristles at written rules.