Kingfisher Cottage, Ilfracombe

Kingfisher Cottage sits on a farm in a valley that runs down to its own sheltered cove on the North Devon coast, a mile or so east of Ilfracombe. The private beach is what dog owners remember: a short walk down from the cottages, quiet, and open to dogs. Above it the farm keeps llamas, geese, chickens and sheep, there is a dog exercise field that guests describe as well kept and clean, and the coast path runs along the top for longer walks.

The welcome for dogs is thought through rather than merely tolerated. Arriving guests find a dog towel, treats and a roll of waste bags put out for them, and up to three pets are allowed. The wider site is set up for dogs and children together, with a shared lockable utility room holding a washing machine, dryer, fridge and freezer, which is useful because the cottage's own fridge is small. Kingfisher itself is compact and cosy, best suited to two people and a dog rather than a crowd, with a comfortable double bed and a well-equipped kitchen.

The one caveat that comes up again and again is that Kingfisher has no private outdoor space of its own. Some of the other cottages on the site do, and more than one party travelling with a dog has said they would choose one of those next time, so the dog could step outside whenever it wanted rather than being walked over to the exercise field. If your dog is used to a back door onto a garden, that is the thing to check before booking.

Beyond that, guests have flagged small maintenance points such as a loose hob ignition and a wobbly dining chair, and several consider the site expensive for what it is, with a check-in and check-out window that makes a short break feel shorter. None of that dents the setting. With a 4.6/5 paw rating, Kingfisher Cottage suits a couple with a dog who want a private beach, farm animals and coast-path walking, and who do not mind walking the dog out rather than opening a garden door.