Appletorre House Holiday Flats

Appletorre House Holiday Flats is a genuinely dog-friendly base for exploring Torquay and the wider English Riviera. Set in a converted period house on Vansittart Road, the flats are self-catering apartments with their own shared garden, so dogs get a bit of outdoor space to potter about in rather than just a corridor and a car park. It is the kind of small, independently run place where arriving with a dog feels expected rather than merely tolerated.

The welcome is what guests with dogs mention most. Owners travelling with everything from a Mini Dachshund to an assistance dog describe being met on arrival by a friendly host who walks them through the flat and shares local tips. Practical touches come up again and again: a food and water bowl put out ready for the dog, alongside extras like milk, juice, tea and biscuits waiting in the kitchen. Several guests make a point of saying the apartments were spotless with no lingering dog smell, which is reassuring if you have ever stayed somewhere that felt tired after previous pets.

For walks, the flats sit a 10 to 20 minute stroll from Torquay's harbour, seafront and town centre, with plenty of shops and places to eat along the way. The return leg is uphill, so it is worth knowing if anyone in your group has mobility issues, though most dog owners simply treat the climb as part of the daily walk. Each flat comes with its own parking space, which makes heading out to Devon's beaches and coast paths straightforward.

A couple of things to keep in mind. There is a resident cat that roams the grounds, so a dog that reacts strongly to cats may need a little managing outdoors. The apartments are compact and layouts vary between flats, so check the room description when you book. For couples, small families and solo travellers who want a clean, welcoming and well-placed Torquay base where their dog is treated as one of the group, Appletorre House earns a solid 4.7 out of 5 paw rating.