Thinking about going on a dog-friendly holiday? Whilst not dog-friendly for the whole year, Devon is a fantastic place to bring your dog. Our guide will give you the best tips for bringing your dog with you on holiday in Devon, from travel tips and motorway stops to dog-friendly beaches and dog-friendly pubs in North Devon.
BENEFITS OF BRINGING YOUR DOG ON HOLIDAY
Organising a dog sitter isn’t easy, but with plenty of dog-friendly accommodation on offer at Croyde Bay Resort, you can keep the whole family together! And what’s more, your four-legged friend can join in the holiday fun.
So, save money on a dog sitter or kennels and don’t worry about having to cash in favours with friends to look after your pet.
You’re bound to meet like-minded dog owners on countryside and coastal walks around Croyde, and at the dog-friendly pubs and dog-friendly beaches in the area.
Create lasting memories of your holiday in Devon and explore the area with your beloved pet at your side.
DOG FRIENDLY BEACHES IN DEVON
If you’re looking for dog-friendly beaches, then read on! We have compiled a list of dog-friendly beaches in North Devon where you and your four-legged friends can explore the coastline and play in the sea.
Whether you want to potter with your pooch or just to press pause with your pet, then many of these Devon beaches welcome dogs (with some seasonal restrictions).
Croyde Beach – You can walk straight from our beach gate onto the sand dunes of Croyde Beach. This beach is dog-friendly from October 1st until April 30th. At other times, dogs can be walked on the Dunes, which sit above the beach.
Saunton Beach – Dogs are allowed on most of Saunton Beach all year round. Dogs should be kept on the lead through the car park and until your passed the main crowds of the beach. There are seasonal restrictions on the beach to the right of the slipway.
Putsborough Beach – At this dog-friendly beach dogs are allowed everywhere, except for the far left of the beach from Easter until November 1st.
Woolacombe – Woolacombe operates a zoning system for dogs. There is one zone where no dogs are allowed during the main season, a second zone where dogs are allowed on the lead, and a third zone where dogs can run free with no restrictions. There are also plenty of sand dunes for your dog to run on!
Braunton Burrows – This is one of the largest sand dune systems in the British Isles. At the heart of the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), it is a UNESCO designated Biosphere reserve. This is a wonderful place to walk your dogs, even when the car park is busy, you can roam for miles and not see anyone.
DOG FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION IN CROYDE
The Croyde Bay WaggyTails cottages and lodges are the perfect dog-friendly accommodation in Devon, for you and your four-legged friend. We provide a supply of dog biscuits, a couple of complimentary waste bags, and blankets to use in your accommodation to allow your furry companion to snuggle up with you on the sofa.
Our WaggyTails cottages sleep up to 5 people and 2 dogs. There are 2 bedrooms and a sofa bed in the lounge. A private decked area allows you all to sit peacefully without needing to have your dog on a lead and it’s a great area to dry off after a beach walk. There’s also an outside hose for washing your dog down afterwards.
The dog-friendly cottages at Croyde Bay have an additional laundry room, just for WaggyTails guests in case you need to wash some of those sandy clothes or muddy boots after a hike.
WaggyTails lodges have 3 bedrooms – an ensuite master bedroom and two additional twin bedrooms, another family bathroom and a large open plan kitchen, dining and living space. Importantly, there are two areas for your four-legged friend to be outside – their own private fenced garden and three-metre outdoor decking, which has patio furniture too.
Less than a minute’s walk from even the furthest lodge or cottage is our beach gate, which opens out straight onto the sand dunes, where dogs are allowed all year and there’s ample space for them to stretch their legs. Croyde Beach is open for dogs from the end of September until the end of April.
We also have dog-friendly areas at Croyde Bay Resort, including one of our restaurants and a dog exercise area.
BEST NORTH DEVON DOG WALKS
Four Beaches Walk
Baggy Point
Braunton Burrows
Southwest Coast Path
DOG FRIENDLY PUBS IN CROYDE
All the pubs below welcome dogs in the pub section and where there’s outdoor space.
The Thatch, Croyde – A popular pub for dog owners where you certainly feel like your four-legged friend is welcome. It’s a busy pub, so there is often lots of people and lots of dogs, but there’s also a few good corners to tuck away in too.
The Manor – Another dog-friendly pub in Croyde. The Manor has a nice large outdoor area and dogs are welcome in part of the pub. It isn’t the biggest dog-friendly area, and it has entrances from both sides, so if your dog is easily distracted you might need to try and find one of the tables in the corner.
The Kings Arms – Described as ‘A treasure of a village pub’ by The Independent, they give you a warm welcome after a long walk through the countryside.
The Rock Inn – As well as five cask marque real ale, you’ll find dog-friendly locals and a warming fireplace in this 17th Century Inn.
TIPS FOR A DOG FRIENDLY HOLIDAY IN DEVON
Plan your journey ahead of time so you can stop in the best rest areas or service stations that have specific areas for dogs (see our list below).
Keep your car cool by not travelling at peak times of the day, shade the windows and make sure there are enough water stops.
Make a list of local vets wherever you visit, just in case.
Make your own packing list of items you use every day without thinking about it. You can check out some of ours below.
Bring a collar tag with your phone number and details on it.
Ensure your pet is microchipped.
DOG FRIENDLY MOTORWAY STOPS – SOUTH WEST
Gloucester Services – One of the best motorway services in the UK with fresh and local produce and hot food, they have a walking trail so your dog can properly stretch their legs and take a bathroom break. This covers both south and northbound.
Gordano – At junction 19 and accessible from both sides of the motorway, Gordano has a grassed area for dogs. This service station gets very busy.
Sedgemoor – Southbound in between junctions 21-22, their website states they’re pet friendly.
Taunton Deane – Between junctions 25-26 with a walk bridge connecting south and northbound sides. Their website states they are pet friendly.
Tiverton – A very small services and not signed from the motorway, but this is just off junction 27, where you’ll leave the M5 to get on to the A361 towards Barnstaple and Croyde. There is not a dedicated dog area, but some small green areas if it’s an essential stop.
There are quite a few laybys along the A361, so it may be better to stop into one of these than in Tiverton if you don’t need fuel or refreshments. The best stop along this stretch of road would be at The Log Cabin Diner around 10 minutes before you get to the South Molton turn-off. There are green areas here, public bathrooms, as well as the diner.
DOG FRIENDLY HOLIDAY PACKING LIST:
Food – Keep your pet’s diet consistent, don’t accidentally forget to pack their food.
Treats – Gotta let them know they have been good!
Dog Towel – For after those long walks or trips to the beach.
Medication – An essential if your pet usually needs any medicine.
Waste Bags – Responsible dog owners, should be the only dog owners.
Bed – Make sure your best friend’s sleep is uninterrupted, so yours is too.
Collar ID Tag
Crate
Water for Journey
Ready for a holiday? For more details about our dog-friendly accommodation in North Devon, check out our WaggyTails cottages and lodges.
