Pippins, Tiverton

Pippins is a self-catering apartment set on the grounds of a family home in Calverleigh, a quiet rural spot just outside Tiverton in mid-Devon, and it makes an easy, low-stress base for a trip with a dog. Because you have the run of a whole self-contained property rather than a room in a busy hotel, there are no shared corridors, no other guests' routines to work around, and nowhere that your dog's welcome is in question.

Guests travelling with dogs consistently describe the place as genuinely set up for pets rather than simply tolerating them. Several mention arriving to find towels and throws left out for the dogs, and more than one notes that a dog who normally struggles to settle in unfamiliar surroundings relaxed here and slept soundly. The hosts come across as warm and easy to deal with, happy to sort out early access and the small touches that make travelling with an animal simpler.

The setting does a lot of the work. There are open views over fields and hills, a garden with plenty of room for a dog to stretch its legs, and a forest walk within a short distance of the door. Tiverton itself is a quick drive away for supplies. Two things are worth planning around: the patio is not enclosed, so a dog that cannot be left off-lead unsupervised will need watching outside, and the driveway is tight, which is useful to know if you drive a larger car.

With consistently high marks from dog-owning guests, Pippins earns a 4.7/5 paw rating. It suits couples and families whose dogs find the bustle and shared spaces of a conventional hotel stressful, and who want a quiet home-from-home for exploring this corner of Devon. As the booking listing does not publish a formal pet policy, it is worth confirming any per-dog charges or limits on the number of dogs with the host before you book.