Wrens Nest, Axminster

Wrens Nest is a small self-catering cottage on the edge of Axminster that has clearly thought about dogs rather than merely tolerating them. Dog towels are left out as standard, which saves a good deal of mess after a beach morning, and dogs get the same friendly welcome and tour of the cottage that their owners do.

The provisioning is generous by holiday-let standards. Guests arrive to bread, butter, milk, eggs, tea, coffee, jam and cereals already in place, so the first evening does not start with a supermarket run, which is useful when you have a dog in the car and nowhere to leave them. Nothing in the listing discloses a pet charge, so check the pet terms when you book.

The garden is the property's best feature and its main caveat at once. It runs down to the river and is genuinely lovely, but it sits across a one-way single-carriageway road that carries real traffic. Guests report it is easy enough to cross with care, and there is a field over the road that dogs enjoy, but this is not a step-out-of-the-back-door arrangement and a dog that pulls or bolts will need holding properly. A noisy manhole cover on that road has also drawn complaints.

One other thing to weigh: the cottage takes dogs regularly, and a strong lingering dog smell has been reported on arrival. That is the trade-off at a small let with a steady stream of canine guests, and it is worth factoring in if anyone in your party is sensitive to it.

Location is a strong suit. Axminster puts Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Seaton and Beer all within easy reach, which is about as good as the Jurassic Coast gets for beach walks, and the cottage has its own parking so the car is never a daily problem.

For dog owners heading to east Devon who want thoughtful hosts and a coast full of walks, Wrens Nest earns a 4.7/5 paw rating.