Dog-Friendly Pubs and Walks in Devon

Why Devon Suits Dogs and Their Humans

Devon packs an unusual amount into a county you can cross in a morning. Two national parks, two coastlines, a web of quiet lanes and a few thousand miles of public footpath add up to genuine choice: moorland before lunch, sand in the afternoon, a fireside pint before the light goes. Better still, the county takes dogs seriously as guests rather than as a problem to be managed. Water bowls appear outside village shops, staff in country inns will often bring a bowl of water and a biscuit without being asked, and plenty of attractions that once turned dogs away now set aside part of the site for them.

The trick is knowing where the welcome is genuine, which beaches and moors have seasonal rules, and how to keep a long day out comfortable for a dog who has never walked this far before.

How to Spot a Genuinely Welcoming Inn

A "dogs welcome" sign is a starting point, not a promise. The pubs that work best for dog owners tend to share a few features.

• Stone flags, slate or bare boards rather than pale carpet — easier for everyone, and a sign the place expects muddy paws.
• Dogs in the bar, not the dining room. That's a perfectly fair arrangement, but ask when you book so you're not turned away at the door.
• A quiet corner table away from the kitchen doors and the main route to the loos. Staff will usually seat you there if you ask.
• Covered outdoor seating with a bit of shelter and, in winter, a heater. In a wet Devon October this matters more than the menu.

When you ring to book, say how many dogs you're bringing and roughly what size they are. Landlords appreciate the warning, and you're far more likely to be given a sensible table. Once inside, keep the lead short and the dog under the table rather than on the furniture, and never let it approach other diners uninvited — even friendly dogs can unsettle someone carrying a hot plate.

Riverside and Woodland Walks for Easy Days

Flat, shaded, water-adjacent routes are the mainstay of a Devon dog holiday, especially in summer when exposed moorland gets hot fast.

• The Tarka Trail follows old railway lines around the Taw and Torridge estuaries, giving long, level, traffic-free miles with estuary views and plenty of benches.
• The Grand Western Canal near Tiverton is a gentle towpath walk with water for a paddle and no hills worth mentioning.
• The River Otter between Budleigh Salterton and the village of Otterton is a lovely lowland wander, often shaded, finishing near a pub garden.
• Bellever Forest and Burrator Reservoir on Dartmoor offer gravel tracks and conifer shade, handy when the open moor is baking.

On Dartmoor, keep dogs on a lead between 1 March and 31 July for ground-nesting birds, and around livestock at any time of year. Ponies and cattle on the moor are not tame, however calm they look, and a loose dog near a cow with a calf is a genuinely dangerous situation.

Coast Path Stretches and Sandy Beach Days

The South West Coast Path is magnificent but not uniformly dog-easy. Sections with long flights of steps, steep drops and narrow cliff-edge paths are best avoided in wet weather or with an elderly dog. Choose instead the gentler stretches around Instow, Appledore and the flat estuary edges, or the level promenades at places like Exmouth.

On beaches, check the rules before you unclip the lead. A good number of Devon beaches restrict dogs between 1 May and 30 September, and some have year-round bans on particular stretches. Woolacombe, Croyde, Saunton, Bantham and Blackpool Sands all have seasonal restrictions, while Slapton Sands and much of the north coast beyond the main resorts offer generous all-year access. Tides matter too: on big spring tides the water comes in quickly across flat sand, and a few coves are cut off entirely. Take a tide table, and never walk out along a sandbar you can't see a route back from.

Hot sand is a real hazard in July and August. If it's too hot for your bare feet, it's too hot for paws — walk early, walk late, and aim for wet sand near the waterline.

Practicalities, Etiquette and Seasonal Hazards

A little preparation makes the difference between a good trip and a stressful one.

• Pack a towel, a collapsible bowl and a spare lead. Two leads are useful on beaches and around livestock.
• Carry waste bags and use the bins. Nothing sours a village's attitude to visiting dogs faster than fouling left behind.
• Check for ticks after moorland and rough grass, and speak to a vet if you find one attached.
• Watch for adders basking on sunny paths in spring and early summer, and avoid still, warm water in late summer where blue-green algae can bloom.
• Build up distance gradually. A dog used to forty minutes will struggle with a six-mile coast walk, whatever the enthusiasm at the start.

Rain is likely, so plan around it. Many pubs with covered gardens welcome wet dogs, and a short woodland loop followed by a long lunch is a perfectly good Devon day. Keep a towel in the boot, keep the dog dry in the car afterwards, and you'll be welcome back in every inn you visit.