If you are looking for a family holiday and you have dogs, it only seems right to bring them along with you. After all your pets are a big part of your family! More people now are choosing to take their dogs with them when they visit Devon and Cornwall, and it’s clear to see why. Both counties have fantastic woodland areas to explore, stunning beaches that allow dogs and plenty of dog friendly restaurants and attractions to visit. So really it would be a shame not to! So, with this in mind, we have come up with a list of best dog friendly places to visit in Devon and Cornwall.
Accommodation
More and more accommodation providers now list themselves as ‘pet friendly’ in the Devon and Cornwall area. At Glebe House Cottages we offer a true ‘home from home’ feeling with our dog friendly lodges in Bude, Cornwall. So of course we believe it’s very important that our guests are able to bring their dogs with them on their family holiday. We have thought of everything that a dog owner could need when staying with us. All of our dog friendly lodges are equipped with strong, scratch resistant laminate flooring and leather sofas. This makes it much less likely that there will be any damages to worry about and makes it easy to clean. We also provide stair gates in each of our cottages, both upstairs and down.
Around the grounds we have a lovely woodland walk for you to enjoy with your family and dogs. We also have dog bins located around the gardens, as well as hoses, so you can give your dog a wash if needed. Your dogs will love their Cornwall holiday as much as you, as you will find doggy welcome packs in all of our dog friendly lodges.
Thinking of staying somewhere else in the area that’s dog friendly? It’s always a good idea to check what they offer inside the accommodation as well as around the grounds for your dog.
2. Walks
As we are situated on the Devon / Cornwall border, there’s a fantastic selection of dog friendly walks, with amazing scenery very local to Glebe House Cottages. After a short 10 minute drive from our dog friendly lodges, there are stunning walks along the coastal path of Bude. You have the option of heading south to see the spectacular cliffs of Widemouth and Crackington Haven, or north through the sandy Crooklets Beach. Here you will find spectacular views of the countryside up to Sandymouth and Duck-pool, which is a fantastic spot for rock-pooling and crabbing!
Alternatively, if you are looking to explore more of the Devon countryside, there are plenty of walks inland with fantastic scenery, local to our dog friendly lodges in Cornwall. We are just a 30 minute drive from the beautiful Exmoor National Park which has over 1000km of footpaths and bridleways. You, your family and your dog will love walking through woodlands, past rivers and on open heather covered moorland. You may even be lucky enough to see some Exmoor ponies or wild red deer!
3. Restaurants and pubs
As more and more people are bringing their dogs with them on their holidays to Devon and Cornwall, there has been an increase in restaurants and pubs that allow dogs. The closest restaurants to our dog friendly lodges (and one of our favourites) is the Molesworth Arms in Pyworthy. It’s less than a 5 minute drive away, serving home cooked food, with some of the fresh ingredients coming from their own allotment. The family owned restaurant has a great reputation for being very dog friendly. They are always happy to welcome four legged guests with some treats and a fresh bowl of water!
There are so many options in Bude itself for dog friendly restaurants that we couldn’t possibly name them all. But we would certainly recommend visiting The Shack which has a yummy menu including burgers, pasta dishes and nachos to name a few. They also have a great selection of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options. We would also recommend the family run Brendon Arms, which serves traditional pub food and overlooks Bude’s inner harbour.
4. Cafés
First on our list of dog friendly cafés is Rosie’s Kitchen, located on Crooklet’s surfing beach. Rosie’s has a lovely daytime and evening menu, with items such as an all day breakfast, pizza and fish and chips. They serve award winning ice-cream and have plenty of vegan and gluten free options on their menu too.
We would fully recommend a visit to the dog friendly Rectory Tearooms (20 minutes from Bude), which offers a full traditional afternoon tea experience. It has the added bonus of being surrounded by fantastic trails for you to explore.
A little further afield (just over 30 minutes drive from Glebe House Cottages) in North Devon is Docton Mill Gardens and Tea Room. It’s a family run business, with a tea room that surrounds the garden terrace. The tearoom serves award winning cream teas, soups, pasties, salads and rolls as well as cakes. Dogs are welcome here on a short lead.
5. Beaches
With our dog friendly lodges located just 10 minutes away from the coast of Bude, there’s a good selection of beaches that welcome dogs nearby. The beaches are perfect for taking a nice walk with the family and letting your dog splash around in the sea. Widemouth Bay is split into two, with the southern side allowing dogs. It has a lovely coastal walk, surrounded by stunning cliffs and beautiful countryside scenery, plus it has good access to the coastal path.
Alternatively, dog owners have the options of Northcott Mouth beach, which is a rocky cove, with a sandy beach when the tide goes out. Sandymouth, a National Trust beach has a dog friendly café. There’s also Trebarwith Strand Beach in Tintagel, overlooked by the Port William Inn which allows dogs.
With so many pet friendly places to visit we are sure that you, your family and your dogs will have a fantastic stay in Devon or Cornwall. If you have any questions about our dog friendly lodges or facilities please contact us.