Devon packs two coastlines, two national parks and some of the most welcoming dog-friendly villages in England into one county. Whether it’s rockpooling on the south coast, surf beaches in the north or striding across Dartmoor, dogs are properly spoilt here – and unlike Cornwall, you can often find a quiet corner even in August.
Dog-friendly beaches in Devon
Devon splits its beaches between year-round dog beaches, zoned beaches and summer bans (typically May to September), so it pays to know before you go:
- Saunton Sands – three and a half miles of North Devon sand with huge dog-friendly stretches and dunes to explore behind
- Ness Cove, Shaldon – reached through an old smugglers’ tunnel, and dog-friendly all year
- Exmouth – two miles of sand with a zoned system, so there’s dog-friendly beach even in peak season
- Woolacombe – a surf classic with designated dog zones year-round
Check signage on arrival – zones and dates shift. Our UK dog-friendly beaches guide covers how the seasonal rules work.
Where to base yourself
South Hams (Salcombe, Kingsbridge, Hope Cove): sheltered coves, estuary walks and the prettiest stretch of the south coast. Busy in summer but glorious off-season.
North Devon (Croyde, Woolacombe, Instow): the surf coast – big beaches, big dunes, and the flat Tarka Trail for easy days.
Dartmoor edge (Tavistock, Chagford, Ashburton): moorland walking from the door and honest market-town pubs; the coast is still only 40 minutes away.
Dartmouth and the River Dart: boats, woods and water – the dog-friendly ferries and river trips are a great rest-day option.
Where to stay: dog-friendly cottages in Devon
Devon does cottage holidays properly – thatched longhouses, converted barns and fishermen’s cottages by the harbour. Our usual rules apply: genuinely enclosed garden, walks from the door, and check the stairs situation for older dogs. On Dartmoor, look for a wood burner and a flagstone floor – wet dog and moorland go together.
Our first pick for the South Hams – more to follow as we test them:
Apple Barn, Salcombe – for coast-path lovers
Sleeps 4 (plus 2 older children on futons) · 2 dogs welcome · enclosed garden
If your idea of a good dog holiday is walks straight from the door and a beach you can stroll to, Apple Barn is hard to beat. It sits at the head of a valley above the Salcombe estuary, deep in the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with the South West Coast Path running in every direction and both Mill Bay and Rickham Sands a short walk down. Two well-behaved dogs are welcome (ground floor only, small charge), there’s an enclosed garden with a patio and gas barbecue, and a wood burner with free unlimited logs for when you come back damp. The pub – the Gara Rock bar and restaurant, in a spectacular clifftop spot – is a quarter-mile away.
One thing worth knowing: the two futon spaces upstairs are reached by a steep ladder-style staircase, so the extra sleeping suits adults and older children, and dogs stay on the ground floor regardless. There’s also no mobile signal – which most people booking a bolthole like this will count as a feature rather than a flaw.
Best for: couples and small families who want the coast path and a beach on foot, and don’t mind being properly off-grid. Check dates and prices for Apple Barn →
Old Farmhouse, Combe Martin – for a luxurious family gathering
Sleeps 6 · up to 3 dogs welcome · hot tub, indoor pool & 17 acres
Where Apple Barn is a cosy bolthole for two, Old Farmhouse is the one to book when the whole family’s coming – dogs included. It’s a 16th-century farmhouse on the Coulscott estate near Combe Martin, on Exmoor’s Heritage Coast, with aged beams, a four-poster bed, a wood burner and rolling valley views from every window. The luxury is real: a private hot tub on a south-facing terrace, a barbecue, and access to the estate’s shared indoor heated pool, games room, tennis court and 17 acres of gardens, meadows and footpaths to wander with the dogs straight from the door.
Up to three dogs are welcome (small charge), and with Exmoor National Park half a mile away and the beaches at Combe Martin, Woolacombe and Croyde all within reach, it’s as good for them as it is for you. Worth knowing: it’s a proper old family house – there are three steps up to one en-suite and fixed stair gates in place – which is rather the point.
Best for: multi-generational trips, groups, and multi-dog families who want space, a hot tub and a pool without leaving the countryside behind. Check dates and prices for Old Farmhouse →
Walks and days out
Haytor and Hound Tor: the classic Dartmoor introduction – short climbs, huge views, and space to roam. Keep dogs on leads around livestock and during ground-nesting season (March to July).
Salcombe to Hope Cove: a superb half-day stretch of the South West Coast Path with a dog-friendly pub finish.
The Tarka Trail: flat, traffic-free and over 30 miles long – perfect for older dogs, rainy days or a café-to-café amble.
Teign Gorge, Castle Drogo: a woodland-and-river circuit that works in any weather, with swimming spots in the Teign.
Practical tips
- Summer bans on restricted beaches typically run May to September – longer than Cornwall’s, so check dates not just signs
- Dartmoor firing ranges: parts of the northern moor close for military training – check firing times before a big walk
- Lambing season (roughly February to May) means leads on around any farmland – and Dartmoor is essentially one big farm
- Adders like the moor’s sunny banks and the coastal heath – keep dogs close in warm weather
Browse dog-friendly Devon cottages
Devon Hideaways is a specialist agency for the county, with a good range of genuinely dog-friendly boltholes – handy if none of the areas above has pinned it down for you yet.