Moonrakers, Dartmouth

Moonrakers is a whole-house rental on Clarence Street in Dartmouth, set on rising ground with the sort of view from the upper floors that almost every guest mentions. The layout suits a family or a group with a dog: kitchen, dining and lounge are upstairs where the outlook is best, bedrooms below, and there is a garden at the back for daytime use.

Dogs are welcome, and the owners ask that they stay off the soft furnishings, which is the only restriction the property sets out. No pet fee, weight cap or breed restriction is published, so confirm those with the managing office when you book.

One caveat matters more than the rest, and it is the reason to arrive prepared. The latch on the garden gate has been reported as broken by more than one guest, with the gate found standing open on arrival, and dog mess was found in the garden that appeared to have come from an animal wandering in through it. For a dog who does not know the layout, that is a straightforward escape route. Plan on supervised garden time, a long-line, or a portable gate until you have seen the state of the latch yourself.

Dartmouth is one of the better south Devon harbour towns to walk a dog around. The house is within walking distance of the centre, the embankment and the river, there is a good spread of dog-friendly pubs and cafes, and the South West Coast Path heading towards Stoke Fleming opens up a proper day out.

A few operational rough edges are worth knowing in advance rather than discovering on arrival: signage to the house is poor, the plumbing has been flagged repeatedly, and the exterior has been painted blue so it no longer matches the listing photos. None of it affects a dog's stay, but it sets expectations.

Best suited to dog owners visiting Dartmouth who want a multi-floor house with real views, who will manage the garden gate practically rather than trusting it, and who can live with a property that has visible maintenance gaps.