2 Rockmount, Salcombe

2 Rockmount is a self-catering house set on the hillside above Salcombe, with wide views across the countryside and terraces that catch the sun at most times of day. For dog owners the standout practical feature is a back gate that opens onto the walk over to North Sands, which turns the beach into a short stroll rather than a drive and a parking hunt.

The house takes up to two dogs. Inside it is well equipped and comfortable, and guests repeatedly single out the views and the owner's attention to detail. There is a dedicated parking space with electric car charging, which several guests used without difficulty and which is genuinely scarce in Salcombe. The town is about ten minutes downhill on foot, and the pubs there are widely dog-friendly and serve decent food, if at Salcombe prices.

The caveat that matters most is the outside space, and it comes up too often to gloss over: there is essentially no grass. The terraces are paved and finished with stone chippings, so there is nowhere on the property for a dog to relieve itself, and guests describe having to walk out every time. Dogs generally adjust, but if you have a puppy, an elderly dog, or one that will not toilet on hard standing, this is a real problem rather than a quibble. The terraced garden has also been described as less accurately represented than it should be, and it is not securely enclosed from the neighbouring gardens on either side.

Access is the other consideration. The walk back up from the town is steep, and there are steps up to the house itself, which is fine if you are reasonably fit and mobile but harder with a dog that needs carrying. The parking space sits on a pronounced slope that has worried guests arriving in older or low-clearance cars.

Condition is mixed. Alongside guests who found the house spotless, there is recurring feedback that it is tired in places, with cracked plaster, poorly finished paintwork and a clogged bathroom extractor all noted. Best suited to active dog owners whose dog is relaxed about toileting off-site, who want estuary views and a back gate to the beach, and who will forgive some wear. It earns a 4.3/5 paw rating.