#dogfriendlydevon

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Activities with your dog on holiday

Dog friendly activities in Torridge, Devon

At Pillows and Paws were are blessed to be in one of the best spots in the country for holidaying with your dog. We’re around 25 minutes from the beaches at Bude, 20 minutes from Dartmoor and we have over 200 acres of woodland, meadows and parkland to explore on site and next door. This page just gives you a taster of what’s on offer. Check out our dog friendly guides for much, much more detail!

Top 10 activities with dogs in Devon

We’ve got loads of fun ideas for a fabulous dog friendly day out. These are our top 10:

1. Dog Walking & Trekking

The best activity with a dog has to be long walks followed with a lazy afternoon tipple at the pub. Our little farm has access to over 200 acres of Forestry Commission woodland and National Trust Dunsland parkland right on our doorstep, with a dog friendly pub (The Bickford Arms) only 1 mile from us. You’ll need your wellies and a map, but it all adds to the fun.

Within half an hour drive we also have Dartmoor, the North Cornwall & Devon cost (South West coast path), lots of woodland and some converted railway lines such as the Ruby Way & The Tarka Trail. Check out our blog articles for more of our recommended walks.

At Pillows & Paws we have lots of Ordnance Survey maps and compass for you to borrow.

  2. Beaches

A close second to dog walking & trekking is visiting the beach with the dog. Why is it that dogs love beaches so much? There are more than 7 dog friendly beaches within 30 minutes of Pillows & Paws where dogs are accepted all year round. Nearly all beaches permit dogs outside the bathing season (April to September). Take a ball and a towel to rub down Rover after a hard day in the rock pools and making new friends to play chase with.

  3. Swimming with your dog

I’ve owned a dog for most of my life but I only tried swimming with my dogs this year! It really is brilliant fun and the dogs love it. As well as all the beaches nearby there are some extra special secret fresh water wild swimming spots we’ll tell you about. If your dog hasn’t swum in lakes or the sea before remember to take it slowly. It may be worth using a dog buoyancy aid until Rover gets the hang of it.

  4. Cani-Cross (Running with Your dog)

Cani-Cross is the best way to make running more fun – period. Melanie at Pillows & Paws is mad on this and regularly goes out running with Fudge & Meg pulling to keep the speed up. It does take a while for the dogs to get the hang of it but one’s you’ve tried it you’ll be hooked. Melanie did her Cani-X training with Lara of Let’s go canicross  in Bude who is also potty about the sport.

5. Nature Reserves with your dog

We’re rather lucky to have quite so many nature reserves on our doorstep. Devon & Cornwall wildlife trusts have eight reserves within easy driving distance of Pillows & Paws. Nearly all of the reserves are dog friendly where dogs have to remain on a lead. One of the best is Meeth Quarry about 20 minute drive away. At Meeth Quarry there is an abundance of butterflies, wading birds and even adders! We’ll be publishing a guide to all the nature reserves on our blog soon.

6. Bikejoring (Cycling with dogs)

We have to admit that we haven’t tried bikejoring yet, but while doing the research for this page we came across this brilliant sport. All that’s needed is a proper harness for the dog, the bike fixings (there’s an arm that sits out from the bike’s head stock), a bike and some bottle! There’s lots of woodland and beaches nearby to give it a go.

7. Geocaching with dogs

Remember orienteering from your youth? Well it’s had a new lease of life and has been brought up to date with Geocaching. Geocaches are secret boxes of goodies hidden all over the world. Geocaching is the treasure hunt to find them, so why not take the dog along for the fun? We know of at least 3 geocaches within 1 mile of Pillows and Paws and thousands across Devon. We’ll tell you how to get started, just remember that for every treat you take you have to put in one of your own. Take a look at the official geocaching website here to find locations.

8. Dog Frisbee & Fetch

‘Fetch’ must be one of the oldest games man has played with dogs since dogs were domesticated. If your dog is anything like ours, ‘Drop’ is the bit we spend the longest playing where we try to get the dog to actually drop the ball or frisbee.  You don’t need to go anywhere special, but we have a few good spots within 1/2 mile walk where we launch the ball down the hill and the dog has to retrieve it.

9. Picnics with the dog

On a beautiful day there can’t be a much better way of spending the afternoon than a lazy picnic in a beautiful quiet spot in Devon. Knowing the area as well as we do, we have some fabulous secret spots for a relaxing quiet picnic with the dog.

10. Gardens & Grounds

We have a number of National Trust & National Heritage properties nearby. These include Castle Drogo, Lydford Gorge, Cotehele, Okehampton castle and of course National Trust Dunsland right next door. Only 20 miles away we also have the whole of the National Trust Hartland & Bideford coast – Just stunning.

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Dog friendly pubs & restaurants

The best dog friendly pubs & restaurants

When holidaying with your pooch in Devon you’re going to need a few trusted places that welcome both you and your beloved dogs.

At Pillows & Paws Cottages we’re potty about dogs so we thought we’d help out with a few of our favourites.

1.Rosie's – Crooklets beach, Bude

Our absolute favourite place in the area is Rosie’s. If you’ve never visited, you’re in for a treat!

Located right on Crooklets beach, Rosie’s is famous for their hospitality and fantastic food and drink. Super informal, Rosie’s serves stone baked pizzas, fish and chips and the best Snickers milkshake you will ever taste. Did I mention it’s our favourite?  Super dog friendly, you’ll always find other diners with their dogs in attendance. If you’re visiting the area, Rosie’s has to be on your list.    website

2. The Bickford Arms

The Bickford has to be the second on our list as it’s so local to us. With roaring fires, great beers, a stone flagged floor and a fabulous carvery on a Sunday, it’s a firm favourite. They’re dog lovers themselves at the Bickford and welcome everyone visiting with their dog. website

3. White Hart - Holsworthy

Next on the list is the White Hart. Tammy & Jon who run the pub are a fabulous couple who go out of their way to make visitors and their dogs welcome. The White Hart is a traditional local pub with real ales, a large selection of gins and even a free pool table. The pub serves a variety of food from plated meals to a carvery on a Sunday.

4. The Half Moon Inn - Sheepwash

If you want an olde worlde pub in the middle of the Devon countryside then you can’t do much better than the Half Moon. A 16th century pub, at the Half Moon dogs are very welcome along with their thirsty owners. The Half Moon has a fantastic selection of whiskeys and one of the best open fires in the area. Perfect after a day out walking.

5. The Rydon Inn

Just outside Holsworthy on the main road to Bude, the Rydon Inn is easily accessible with a large car park and even larger landscaped gardens. The pub is modern inside and serves traditional pub meals with a twist. A firm favourite with locals, you’ll need to book if you want to eat at the Rydon during the summer season.

6. The Puffing Billy - Great Torrington

On the outskirts of Great Torrington you’ll find the Puffing Billy a café/ restaurant with a difference. Located right on the long distance Tarka trail, the café serves a wide range of homemade meals including vegetarian and vegan options along with real ales and a great selection of drinks. The Sargeant family who run the café pride themselves on their dog friendliness. Originally the Puffy Billy was a Victorian railway station, one of only two remaining terminal stations for the Atlantic Coast Express route. Now the railway has gone, replaced by a fantastic walking and low gradient cycling trail stretching from Braunton to Meeth.

7. The Falcon Hotel - Bude

If you’re looking for something a little more upmarket (and dog friendly) the Falcon Inn is a great shout. Located right next to Bude canal, a stroll from Summerleaze beach and just over the road for the Tourist Information Office. Dogs are only permitted in the bar, but the Falcon has one of the best menus in the area. Book early, the Falcon is often fully booked if you turn up on spec.

8. The Shack - Bude

If you like great quality fast food such as burgers, nachos and chicken wings, the Shack is a brilliant stop off. Opposite the river in the centre of Bude, The Shack is a cheaper option but still dog friendly.

9. The Highwayman Inn – Sourton Down

Now for something really mad, eccentric and any other superlatives you can think of! The Highwayman Inn in Sourton has been rated as one England’s most unusual pubs. The pub boasts gothic arches, a door from a whaling ship and a dragon fashioned from bog wood from Dartmoor. The pace really is bonkers. Massively friendly to both dogs and their owners, you’ll spend an enchanting few hours in the Highwayman Inn

10. Fingle Bridge Inn

A little further afield is the famous Fingle Bridge Inn.  Named after the famous Fingle Bridge the pub has a fabulous setting right next to the river Teign. With lots of picnic benches outside the pub is a fabulous place to grab a pub lunch and a drink or a Devon cream tea while walking the well-trodden paths of Castle Drogo.

This is only a brief list of some of our favourites. Stay at Pillows & Paws cottages and we’ll share our secrets of the area with you.