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Ideas for a dog friendly day trip in Devon

3rd September 2020

Categories: Visitor News

If our roving reporter Dilys has taught us anything it is that Devon is a county of dog lovers and that wherever you are in the county, you’re never too far from an accommodation provider or attractions that is happy to let you furry friends join you.

If you’ve been inspired by Dilys’ adventures and want to plan some for yourself and your dogs, take a look at some of our suggestions below of places you can stay and things you can do in Devon on a dog friendly day trip.

You’d be surprised by the amount of attractions in Devon that are happy to welcome dogs. Some attractions provide creche like services, where you can bring them and then let them have fun in a kennel during your visit, but many of them are happy for your dog to join you throughout the whole experience!

Image: Dilys, our roving reporter.

One place that Dilys rates highly is House of Marbles in Newton Abbot. Home to Teign Valley Glass, a working glasswork using traditional techniques alongside new methods to create extraordinary glasswork, House of Marbles offers a fascinating day out. The shop features everything from homeware to confectionary, you can even have your dog’s foot cast in glass! The site also has four museums full of games, pottery, glass and marbles giving you plenty to see and do. You can even stop for food in the fully licenced eatery, you might remember Dilys was very jealous of the cream teas on offer!

Newton Abbot isn’t far from the English Riviera where you can find a whole host of fabulous attractions, amazing places to stay and plenty of bars and restaurants to grab refreshments. Because this is such a popular destination for visitors to Devon, you’ll find that there are plenty of places to visit with your dog.

In Babbacombe on the outskirts of Torquay, you’ll find the Babbacombe Model Village, one of Europe’s Premier Model Villages. It’s famous for its miniature landscapes and is regularly featured on TV programmes. Dogs are allowed to join you in all the outdoor areas and we’re sure they’d enjoy mini Stone Henge as much as the rest of the family!

Image: Babbacombe Model Village.

Another great place to visit for the whole family is the Jurassic Coast. This part of Devon has incredible beaches, friendly towns and villages and lots of glorious gardens and countryside for you and your dog to explore. In the charming village of Beer which has some amazing views of the Jurassic Coast is Pecorama, home to PECO the model railway track manufacture and one of the leading family friendly tourist attractions in the region. Though not open at the moment, Pecorama includes model railways, beautiful gardens and the Beer Heights Light Railways, giving you plenty of options for things to see and do! In fact, the onsite gardens are some of the finest in the east of Devon!

Just a short distance away in Seaton is Seaton Tramway which offers a great day out where you can ride a tram. The journey in the open top double decker trams give you a panoramic view of the estuary and there are under cover areas too for if the weather turns. Dogs can even ride the trams with you, it’s just £1 each way! The Donkey Sanctuary is another of East Devon’s premier tourist attractions which accepts dogs. Naturally, because of the donkeys, you’ll need to keep dogs on a lead, but they are still welcome in all areas of the sanctuary. Aside from the many donkeys to befriend, the sanctuary also has a wonderful restaurant where you can get an array of dinners including afternoon treats and Sunday Roasts! Again, this site isn’t open just yet, but once they open their doors, get it on your lists for a dog day out!

One of the great things about visiting Devon is the chance to explore the coast, rather than try to figure out which beaches have regulations in place and when, why not enjoy the coast by boat instead? Stuart Line Cruises offer a variety of different cruises, many of which are themed all year around! It’s a great way to see Devon in a whole new light.

For those of you who have energetic dogs, Devon is full of amazing countryside places for them to explore.

Image: Tree Surfers

If you’re travelling with both dogs and kids, enjoy the great outdoors by visiting somewhere like Tree Surfers. This adventure activity centre is based in Tavistock and is full of rope bridges, zip lines and tarzan swings with something for everyone to enjoy. Obviously we don’t recommend you taking your dog on the big zip, but they will love exploring the trails and mountain bike tracks and watching you guys climb trees to your heart’s content!
Also in Tavistock is Tamar Trails an all day attractions for families who love being outdoors. The network of woodland trails, canoe trips and more give you plenty of options for a fun day out. Based in the beautiful Tamar Valley and part of a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this is a great place to get to grips with Devon’s natural landscape.

The Dartmoor National Park is the perfect place for exploring with your dog. Not only are many of the accommodation options in and around Dartmoor dog friendly but they will love all that open space. One place you can visit is Roadford Lake in Lifton, which is between Okehampton and Launceston and is one of this area’s most popular attractions. The network of footpaths and cycle tracks suit visitors of all ages and abilities and dogs are welcome to join you on your exploration, as long as they don’t jump in the water. The rest of the family will love the activity centre where you can explore the lake by kayak, enjoy some archery or take on the high ropes course!

If you’re the kind of family that doesn’t mind a bit of mud, make sure to visit the Bear Trail on the outskirts of Exeter. This is Devon’s muddiest assault course with over 30 obstacles and adventure activities to enjoy! Speaking of Exeter, the city has several places on the outskirts that are great for exploring the outdoors and bringing the dog along with you. Haldon Forest Park is over 3,000 acres and just fifteen minutes from the city centre. The forest has several trails that can be explored by cycle, Segway, horse or on foot!

Image: Haldon Forest Park.

Canonteign Falls is also in the Exeter area and is home to England’s highest manmade waterfalls creating a magical natural paradise in the heart of the Teign Valley and offering a tranquil day out for the whole family. It’s a great spot to take a picnic, but if you don’t fancy bringing food with you, the café provides an array of locally produced dishes and sitting in the courtyard gives you a wonderful view.

In between Exeter and Tiverton, you’ll find Fursdon House and Gardens , this is one of Devon’s oldest family homes and has stunning views across the parkland and beyond into Dartmoor. Outside the house is an attractive and informal garden to explore and the café offers some of the best cream teas in the region, the scones are freshly made each day! Though we don’t recommend feeding the dog your cream tea, dogs are welcome to join you as you traverse the gardens and take in the splendid views. If country houses and exquisite gardens are your thing, the National Trust are generally very dog friendly and welcome you and your furry friends to enjoy the gardens and parts of the cafes and homes. While not a stately home, Powderham Castle is another option for those that love learning about Devon’s families. The castle has been a family home for over 600 years and there are plenty of things to learn about their lives over the years, as well as a variety of events and activities being held throughout the year.

Not sure that you or your dog quite have the energy for that kind of thing or you’re more of a thrill seeker? Well, there are options for you too. The Milky Way Adventure Park in Bideford is an all weather family friendly adventure park full of rides and activities, it’s great fun whatever your age – plus they’re happy for your dog to join you! The North of Devon is a particularly dog friendly region, with lots of dog friendly accommodation and even places to eat that are happy for your dog to come in and join you!

Inspired to bring your dog to Devon? You can find out more about the various attractions that welcome dogs straight from the dog’s mouth by following Dilys’ adventures around the region on our blog.

For more ideas of places you can take your dog including places to stay and places to eat, take a look at our dog friendly page here. Make sure to check with the individual establishments before travelling to check availablility, opening and capacity.