8 The Pottery, Dartmouth

8 The Pottery is a stylish, modern apartment in a converted pottery building in the centre of Dartmouth, the South Hams sailing town on the Dart estuary in south Devon. It comes with its own parking space, which counts for a lot in a town where parking is the main summer headache, and the South West Coast Path is reachable on foot without moving the car.

One dog is welcome, at a charge of £25 paid at the property. Owners who have stayed here with a dog tend to be pleased with the space itself - warm, airy and spotlessly kept, with room for four adults and a dog without anyone falling over each other - and several point out that a Dartmouth flat taking dogs at all is not something to take for granted.

The layout is where opinion divides, and it is worth being clear about. The apartment is up two flights of stairs, and there is no private garden or enclosed outdoor space at the door. Guests travelling with dogs have split on how much that matters: some found popping out to the cove or the gravelled area outside worked perfectly well, while others felt the climb and the lack of anywhere to exercise a dog on site made it a poor fit. An easy-going dog that takes stairs in its stride will be fine; a large, elderly or anxious one probably will not.

The location repays the effort. The coast path, the river, the ferries and the wider South Hams coastline are all close, with dog-friendly beaches and estuary walks a short drive out. Inside, the main living area is on the dark side, lit by one small window against a natural stone wall, and there have been comments that the decor and bathrooms are looking tired.

It works best for a couple or small family with one relaxed dog who want a smart, central base for exploring Dartmouth on foot and do not need outdoor space at the door.