Westbeach Holiday Apartments

Westbeach Holiday Apartments sit on Nelson Road in Westward Ho!, a couple of minutes from the promenade and from the long stretch of flat sand that makes this part of the north Devon coast such good dog country. The apartments are self-contained, and some are on the ground floor, which is the detail that matters most with a dog: no lift, no stairwell, and a quick way out for the last walk of the night.

Dogs are specifically welcomed here, and it shows in how routine the arrangement feels to guests travelling with them. The village does as much work as the apartments do. There is a pet supplies and grooming shop on the same road, a small supermarket and a convenience store for the things you forget, and a hardware shop next door, so a week here does not mean driving into Bideford for supplies. It earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.

The beach is the reason to come. At low tide it opens into a wide, flat expanse that is close to ideal for a dog that wants to run, reached over a band of large pebbles that takes a bit of scrambling. Like most popular English beaches it carries seasonal dog restrictions, so a summer booking needs checking against the current rules. Guests who visit outside the main holiday season describe having the run of it.

Two things to budget for. A pet charge applies and the amount is not published in the listing, so pin it down when you book. And guests have asked for an outside hose for rinsing sand and salt off before going indoors, so plan on bringing a towel and a water container instead.

Best suited to dog owners who want a beach holiday where the dog can be walked off the doorstep, and who value being able to buy dog food, get a groom and reach the sand all within a few hundred metres.