Oyster Catcher Cottage, Brixham

Oyster Catcher Cottage sits right on the edge of Brixham harbour on the south Devon coast, a three-storey house with sea and harbour views from its upper floors and the town's quay, beach and coastal path all within a short walk. It's a whole-house self-catering rental, so there are no shared corridors, lobbies or lifts to manage with a dog on arrival - you have the place to yourselves.

Dogs are welcome here for an additional fee of £35 per pet, per stay, and the property manager asks that you flag any dogs when you book rather than turning up with them unannounced. Because it's an entire house rather than a room in a larger building, a dog settles into its own space quickly, and the harbour-front setting puts seafront strolls and dog-friendly Devon coastline on the doorstep.

There are a couple of honest caveats worth weighing before you book with a dog. The cottage is arranged over three levels with steep internal stairs, which won't suit older or less mobile dogs. More importantly for anyone hoping to let a dog out unsupervised, the garden is not fully enclosed: there are steep steps down to it and it shares access with a neighbouring property, so guests travelling with dogs have pointed out it isn't secure for off-lead time. Parking is also tight on the narrow harbour lanes, which is worth planning for if your dog travels by car.

On balance, Oyster Catcher Cottage suits dog owners who want a characterful harbour base in the middle of Brixham and whose dogs are steady on stairs and happy to be walked on the lead. Owners who need a securely fenced garden for a bouncy or escape-prone dog will probably want to look elsewhere in the town.