A Quick Guide to Dog Friendly Breaks in the South West

With such a strong farming and hunting tradition in the south west of England, dogs have always been an integral part of life and are highly regarded as valued members of the family. This makes the south west the perfect place to find dog friendly breaks – locations and accommodation where both two and four legged guests are welcome.

Going on holiday without your family pet can mean extra expense with boarding kennel fees or arranging for a friend or family member to look after your dog while you’re away. It can also be upsetting, especially for the younger members of the family to have to leave their favourite friend behind, even for a few days. So finding accommodation that welcomes dogs can take the worry and stress out of the start of the holiday and even save you money.

Dog friendly accommodation has become much more popular in recent years, with far more vendors welcoming dogs. There is usually a small additional fee, but this can be far cheaper than boarding kennel costs. Self catering accommodation in particular is very dog friendly, and the cottages or houses let for these breaks often have gardens that can give your dog a chance to stretch his legs without getting lost. Please remember though, to clean up after your pet out of courtesy to the owner of the accommodation.

Some accommodation providers even offer extra bedding or blankets for your pet to sleep on, but do check with the vendor first, just in case you need to pack your dog’s favourite blanket or basket before you go. Remember also to take a water dish and food dish, as these are not always supplied.

Some beaches in the south west are dog friendly while others do not allow dogs at all or during certain times. Before you set off it may be wise to check via the Internet whether the local beaches welcome dogs and any restrictions that may apply. If you’re taking your dog for a walk in the countryside, do also consider that the south west is a rural community with plenty of livestock, so remember to take your dog’s lead.

A lot of pubs, particularly in the more remote areas of the south west such as Exmoor and Dartmoor, welcome (well behaved!) dogs in public bars. However, in towns and more built up areas this is less likely so again have a quick check before you arrive that your dog isn’t going to spend the evening tied up outside or waiting patiently in the car for you!

The small charge made by most accommodation providers is to cover extra cleaning costs entailed. It is usually a nominal fee, but if you are taking your dog on holiday with you, it may be worth hunting around for bargains, especially if you have more than one dog. Many hotels are still not dog friendly, but more are coming around to the fact that people do want to bring their dogs with them when they travel to the south west, so a quick call to the hotel of your choice can easily confirm if they do accept dogs or not.

There are websites available that list dog friendly accommodation providers, enabling you to search in the area you’re interested in visiting to find a suitable location. So with plenty of dog friendly breaks on offer in the south west, there’s no reason why a family holiday shouldn’t include your favourite four-legged friend as well as the rest of the family.