Groves Fishleigh, Hatherleigh

Groves Fishleigh is a thatched Devon cottage tucked away at the end of a long single-track lane near Hatherleigh, and it is a genuinely relaxing rural base for a holiday with a dog. The whole cottage is yours, set in its own grounds with barns and open countryside all around, and guests travelling with dogs return to it again and again for the peace and the walking on the doorstep.

Up to four dogs are allowed per booking, which is unusually generous for a cottage this size and makes it a realistic option for multi-dog households rather than just one-dog couples. There is no published pet charge.

The setting is the main draw. There are plenty of good walks straight from the cottage, part of the Tarka Trail runs alongside the grounds, the lane has no through-traffic so it is quiet and safe, and the owners live nearby and are on hand if needed without being intrusive. Dogs settle in easily, and several guests describe it as the kind of place they book a second and third time.

There is a fenced area at the front of the property with a five-bar gate, which lets most dogs potter about off-lead. Three honest caveats are worth knowing. Small dogs can squeeze through the gaps in the five-bar gate, so it is not fully secure for little ones. There are resident ducks and other animals nearby that some dogs will want to bark at. And the house rules ask that dogs are not taken upstairs and are not left alone in the cottage, which owners have found restrictive in hot weather when they would rather leave the dogs in the cool than walk them.

Inside, the cottage is spacious, spotlessly clean and well equipped, with comfortable beds and a good hot shower, and it makes a comfortable centre for exploring Dartmoor and the wider Devon countryside. Bring your own basics: guests consistently report that little beyond loo roll and hand wash is provided. The single-track lane access takes care on arrival but is well worth it for the seclusion.

Groves Fishleigh suits couples and families travelling with dogs, including larger packs, who want a private, peaceful thatched-cottage base with excellent walking and real rural seclusion. If you have a small dog that needs a fully enclosed garden, factor in the five-bar gate; otherwise it is hard to fault, and it earns a 4.7/5 paw rating.