The Log Cabin, Sheldon

The Log Cabin sits on its own in a wooded valley on a private trout fishery in the Blackdown Hills, a few miles from Honiton, and it is the kind of place people bring dogs to precisely because there is nothing around it. Guests travelling with dogs describe letting them explore the grounds, watching deer and buzzards from the porch, and coming back to a log burner in the evening. There is no wifi and no mobile signal at all, which most visitors treat as the point rather than a drawback.

The property is booked as a whole cabin, so there are no corridors or shared spaces to negotiate and dogs are simply part of the stay. Dog owners consistently mention the freedom of the surrounding woodland and grassland, the walks that start at the door, and several dog-friendly pubs within a short drive. Repeat visits are common.

It is worth being honest about the standard. This is a basic, rustic cabin rather than a polished holiday let, and comments about tired mattresses, saggy sofas, worn bed linen and inconsistent cleaning come up regularly, including from guests who otherwise loved the place. Some have arrived to find the cabin smelling of cigarettes and damp dog, which points to turnaround cleaning as the weak spot here. Bring your own basics, including loo roll and hand soap.

There are a few practical things to plan for with a dog. The grounds are open rather than enclosed, access is a narrow single-track lane, free-range hens share the site, and there are electric fences around some of the fishing pools. The woodland and rough grass also mean ticks are common locally, so up-to-date tick treatment is sensible. A small number of dog-owning guests have felt the cabin suits an angling trip better than a dog holiday.

Best suited to owners of settled, recall-reliable dogs who want genuine quiet, woodland walks and a wood burner, and who would rather have space and seclusion than a smart interior. On that basis it earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.