For most dog owners, pooch is part of the family so he should join the fun and games of your holiday - it's only fair, right? And where better than the West Country, where we have nearly 400 holiday cottages offering dogs a warm welcome?
It’s perfect dog-walking country, with miles of stunning scenery along the South West Coast Path leading to the region’s many dog-friendly beaches, where your dog can roll in the sand or splash in the surf. Inland, there are wonderful walks, long or short, to suit your dog’s appetite (or leg length) for exploring the great outdoors, with a myriad of interesting scents to sniff out across the heather-clad hills of Exmoor, Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor.
There are a huge number and variety of beaches in the West Country where dogs are very welcome; here are a few in Cornwall to whet your appetite. There’s a three-mile stretch of sand and great surfing at Whitsand Bay, one of south-east Cornwall’s finest beaches. The Times newspaper chose Mawgan Porth as one of its top ten holiday beaches, enthusing, "There are better known beaches in Cornwall, but few can match the raw beauty of Mawgan Porth, near Newquay”, and your four-legged friend is welcome there too. Q324 (pictured above) will set tails wagging...
Or, if you prefer the call of the wild, the West Country boasts some of the most beautiful walking in the country. The heather hills and tors of Bodmin, Dartmoor and Exmoor are well worth the climb when you and your dog survey the wide open spaces from ‘the top of the world’. Be king (and faithful hound) of the castle from A90.
Many West Country attractions and gardens go out of their way to make dogs feel at home. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Trebah and Caerhays Castle and Gardens all welcome well-behaved dogs, whilst Pencarrow, past winner of the ‘We are dog friendly’ award, allows dogs to bring along well-behaved owners. Come to heel at S34...
There are plenty of great spring offers at smart apartments, cosy cottages and grand houses where your pet can stretch out after a day rummaging along the hedgerows and winding lanes of the region. Take a look at our special offers page for more details.
With over 390 dog-friendly cottages to choose from throughout Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset, you really are spoilt for choice. Lots of us at Helpful Holidays are dog owners too, so do call for a chat and tips on how to make your West Country holiday with your dog the paw-fect experience.