Willows near Bantham, South Devon

Willows is a two-bedroom lodge at Buckland Park, dropped into a wooded valley between Bantham and Thurlestone, and its main appeal for dog owners is the outdoor space. The lodge has its own enclosed garden and a veranda, and guests bringing dogs have made heavy use of both. The letting agency is careful to say that no garden here is guaranteed secure, however private or enclosed it looks, so judge it against your own dog rather than assuming it will hold one that tests a fence.

It is well equipped for a self-catering week, with bedding, towels, tea towels, cleaning supplies and a washing machine, which matters more than usual when a dog has been in the sea. The valley itself is quiet and full of wildlife, with birds and grazing cattle for company, and the setting suits a slow week rather than a packed itinerary.

The honest caveat is walking. There is no dedicated dog-walking area anywhere on the lodge park beyond your own garden, so every walk starts with either the lanes or the car. Access is a factor too. The drive down from the Bantham beach road is steep and single-track, the road in front of the lodges is single-track as well, and the parking space suits one car rather than two, so confident reversing is part of the deal.

Once you are down there, the South Hams beaches are a short drive away, though several carry seasonal dog restrictions over the summer, so it is worth checking which are open to dogs before you set off. A charge is made for each pet, and the agency asks to be told at the time of booking how many are coming. With a 4.4/5 paw rating, Willows works best for a couple or small family with dogs who want quiet countryside and do not mind driving to the coast each day.