Linham Barn, Kingsbridge

Linham Barn is a converted barn in the South Hams a few minutes' drive from Kingsbridge, and it is one of the more convincingly dog-friendly big-group houses in south Devon. The grounds are the reason: they are enclosed and secluded, and families arriving with two dogs and small children have been able to let both out together without watching the boundary. Up to two pets can stay.

The house is built for occasions, with twelve or more people across three generations gathering for birthdays, anniversaries and family reunions, and the games room does most of the entertaining. Dogs get the run of a large indoor space and a garden that gets used all day, and the grounds are quiet enough that the tame wildlife around them becomes part of the holiday. Beaches and coast walks are a short drive, and Kingsbridge has supermarkets and shops five minutes away.

Two things are worth knowing before booking. The house runs over several levels with steps on the ground floor, which suits some dogs less than others, though it has not proved a barrier even for a blind dog, who learned the route within a couple of days. And the grounds are only as clean as the previous guests left them: dog owners have arrived to more than a dozen piles of dog mess to clear before letting their own animals and grandchildren out, so a walk round the garden before you open the door is time well spent.

Housekeeping draws the other criticism. The barn is clean at eye level but dusty above it, with cobwebs around the roof windows, and fittings around the house have been reported as tired or broken. Heating has caught guests out in colder months, with the controls locked behind a code.

For dog owners the balance still comes out well ahead: enclosed grounds, hard-wearing space, and a house that absorbs a large group and their dogs without anyone feeling squeezed. It earns a 4.7/5 paw rating.