The Fortescue Inn Salcombe

The Fortescue Inn stands on Union Street in the middle of Salcombe, a few minutes from the water, the ferries and the town's shops and restaurants. It is a smartly refitted pub with modern rooms above the bar, and it is one of the more straightforward places on this stretch of the South Devon coast to arrive with a dog, because the pet terms are published rather than left to be agreed case by case.

Dogs are welcome throughout the pub and in the beer garden, not confined to a corner by the door, and water bowls and dog treats are laid on. There is a flat charge of five pounds per dog for the stay, and no size limit, so large breeds are taken on the same terms as small ones. That combination is unusual enough in a town-centre inn to be the main reason to book it.

Beyond the dog side, the inn draws steady praise for friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and a generous cooked breakfast. For a dog, though, the location does the heavy lifting. You are moments from the estuary front, with the passenger ferry across to East Portlemouth, coastal footpaths, sandy coves and the wider South Hams countryside all within reach for walks of any length.

One thing to weigh. The Fortescue is a working pub and the bedrooms sit above the bar, so evenings can be noisy. Earplugs are provided and asking for a quieter room helps, but a dog that startles at late-night noise will find a Friday harder work than a Tuesday.

It suits dog owners who want a central, sociable base for exploring Salcombe on foot, with the bar and garden open to their dog, and who do not mind a little evening buzz from below.