Wednesday 5 January 2011

Yelpful Holidays for you and your dog...


For most people who own a dog, a holiday wouldn’t be truly enjoyable unless man’s best friend comes too. Taking your dog on holiday is likely to broaden rather than limit your West Country experience, whether setting out on long rambling walks together or settling down by the fire in a country pub.

The heather-clad hills and tors of Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor are a challenge worth the climb when you and your dog survey the miles of open space from ‘the top of the world’. Your dog will enjoy a day of rummaging and rabbity scents, and in the bar afterwards you’ll meet like-minded pet owners happy to share shaggy-dog stories.

Helpful Holidays offers many holiday cottages where your dog is welcome in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Smart apartments and cosy cottages sit right beside the most beautiful of the many dog-friendly beaches in the region. Here we’ve picked a few suitable cottages and coupled them up with good walks nearby.

Dune View nestles by the dunes at Rose and is handily placed for the huge sandy beach at Perran Sands – a fantastic expanse to get any dog belting along at full speed and sniffing enthusiastically around rock pools. This sturdy detached stone cottage sleeps six and has a large, enclosed garden. This long walk takes in Perran Beach and Holywell.

For those who prefer an inland refuge, Weddicott Barn is a stunning barn conversion with an indoor heated swimming pool. It sleeps ten and is located just a mile from Chagford, which makes it an excellent base for exploring Dartmoor. Here’s a good winter walk from Chagford by BBC Radio Devon’s Michael Chequer.

The Old Stables in lush South Hams farmland above the River Avon valley sleeps four and has a good-sized, enclosed, semi-walled garden. This local walk will take you through fabulous local scenery; once in Totnes, seek out the Maltsters Arms pub which keeps a dog biscuit barrel on the bar and has a river for swimming. 

It’s easy to find which of our properties allow pets – just head to our Advanced Search page and select the ‘Pets allowed - Yes' option. Many of us at Helpful Holidays are dog owners too, so do call us on 01647 433593 for a chat and tips on how to make your West Country holiday with your dog a thoroughly enjoyable experience.