The Best Pet-Friendly Hotels to Book in Devon

Get a flavour of Devon with a stay at a pet-friendly hotel in the countryside | Courtesy of the Horn of Plenty / Expedia

Emma Sparks

22 February 2022

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Who says travelling should exclude our furry friends? Many places in Devon – an area characterised by craggy cliffs, sandy stretches and rugged moorlands – are perfect for prowling pets, and many hoteliers in the county understand the importance of your canine companion. Expect all the treats and trimmings for your four-legged guest at the best dog-friendly hotels in Devon, all bookable with Culture Trip.

Thurlestone Hotel, for a pooch welcome gift

An outdoor area with an umbrella and two lounge chairs at the Thurlestone Hotel in Devon

Courtesy of Thurlestone Hotel / Expedia

Feeling dog tired? Check in to this dog-friendly hotel and spa on the south Devon coast to unwind. Fresh sea air, morning swims and indulgent massages will have you feeling revived in no time. And the pampering extends to your pooch, who will likely be more interested in the contents of the welcome gift – a goody bag of treats and toys – than the sparkling sea views. Dog-friendly Thurlestone Beach, with its eponymous stone arch, is just a short walk away.

Mill End Hotel, for a riverside hotel

The outside of the Mill End Hotel in Devon with a white facade and gardens

Courtesy of Mill End Hotel / Expedia

It’s time for walkies – and nowhere suits ramble-loving dog owners better than this riverside hotel within Dartmoor National Park. Forgot the lead? No problem. With complimentary homemade dog biscuits and pick-up bags in hand, plus a guide to the best local hikes, you and your canine will soon feel right at home. There’s even a dedicated boot room with plenty of towels for cleaning up mucky pups who can’t resist a good puddle.

Bovey Castle, for a Pooch Parlour

A swimming pool with blue pillars and a lounge area at the Bovey Castle in Devon

Courtesy of Bovey Castle / Expedia

Looking for a dog-friendly hotel in Devon? This imposing country manor in North East Dartmoor looks far too grand to welcome four-legged guests. But like the Queen and her corgis, you’re welcome to kick back with your canine friends in these most luxurious – and surprisingly pet-friendly – surrounds. Don’t miss a walk around the 275 acres (111ha) estate and the surrounding national park. Muddy paws are no bother: you can simply help yourself to the Pooch Parlour facilities and spruce up your pup with a wash and blow-dry.

Royal Castle Hotel, for a woodland stay

A restaurant at the Royal Castle Hotel in Devon with grey and brown decor, a fireplace and tables and chairs

Courtesy of Royal Castle Hotel / Expedia

With incredible views over the River Dart, this 17th-century pub with rooms is a fine place to retreat with your pooch after a day of exploring. The hotel once hosted renowned novelist Agatha Christie and featured in the film adaptation of Ordeal by Innocence (1984). The author (who happened to be a devoted dog lover) spent many summers at Greenway, a nearby National Trust property, where well-behaved dogs are welcome to roam the woodland and walled gardens.

Austen’s Luxury Apartments, for a beach stay

A white room with a large bed and desk at the Austen's Luxury Apartments in Devon

Courtesy of Austen's Luxury Apartments / Expedia

Given Torquay’s proximity to petting zoos, country parks and the celebrated Paignton Zoo, it’s only right your pet should be able to join in the fun. And they can if you stay at Austen’s Apartments near the promenade and right by a dog’s best playground – the beach. Perfect for families on the go, all ten apartments are dog-friendly with plenty of wipe-clean surfaces for mucky pups. You can set your own agenda and explore the English Riviera at your leisure, thanks to Austen’s self-service set-up, and load up on essentials at Asda (a five-minute drive away), saving your pennies for dinner at the Simon Hulstone Michelin-star the Elephant or the dog-friendly Waddling Duck Bistro.

The Horn of Plenty, for a country hotel stay

Quirky orange and yellow chairs and a teal dresser against a light blue wall at The Horn of Plenty

Courtesy of the Horn of Plenty / Expedia

It’s a dog’s life at the Horn of Plenty, a country house hotel surrounded by five acres of gardens just above the Tamar Valley. Dogs and owners get the best of nature’s bounty with five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty within easy reach and Dartmoor a mere 10 minutes drive. Be mindful of moorland ponies and deer when walking with dogs, and watch out for the mythic black hounds prowling the craggy moorland, which inspired the Sherlock Holmes novel Hound of the Baskervilles (1901). When you’re sufficiently tuckered out, rest on plush velvet pouffes by the fire in the hotel before heading to the restaurant – with two AA Rosettes, no less; dogs can’t go inside, but they will be treated to a complimentary doggie dinner.

Ring of Bells Inn, for a Dartmoor longhouse

A white and beige room at the Ring of Bells with a double bed, mirror and window cove

Courtesy of Ring of Bells / Expedia

The Ring of Bells Inn, a 13th-century Dartmoor longhouse, sits inside North Bovey, a picture-book village specialising in all things cute, which means rows of thatched houses, a medieval church, a couple of castles (Bovey Castle is surprisingly dog-friendly) and even a Miniature Pony Centre. Inside the wood-beamed bar, you’ll find locals alongside guests (expect a few sheepdogs on any given day, given the large farming community); pick a place by the snug inglenook fireplace and order a West Country ale or gin. Rooms have the same period features with tartan-clad springy double beds and beamed ceilings. Dogs are allowed in all five rooms, so the choice is yours.

Weeke Barton, for rugged country flair

A lounge area at the Weeke Barton with brown sofas, a wood burner and large bookshelf

Courtesy of Weeke Barton / Expedia

Hackney émigrés Sam and Jo set up Weeke Barton after the success of the first country renovation, Higher Westcott Farm. Despite its rugged country flair – all cowhide furnishings and exposed brickwork – the London touch can be felt in Pinterest-friendly accents such as beamed bookshelves dotted with vintage cameras, eclectic paraphernalia and plenty of nods to the ever-popular Nordic aesthetic. An ideal hygge hang-out, the low-slung lounge wouldn’t be complete without a snoozing pooch in front of the log burner. Spaniels Coco and Winston have the run of the house, but with five acres of land – two exclusively for guests – a stream, a pond and a shipwrecked boat, your dog will feel like the king of this traditional stone and cob castle.

Lewtrenchard Manor, for a Jacobean-era manor

Exterior of the Lewtrenchard Manor in Devon with gardens, a large manor and an outdoor dining area

Courtesy of Lewtrenchard Manor / Expedia

This majestic Jacobean-era manor sits at the base of a secluded valley below Dartmoor. It offers a blend of old-school opulence (the hotel even has its own authentic coat of arms) and a country casual air. Despite being an ideal hideout, the hotel is within easy reach of Devon and Cornwall while the wild tors, beyond the well-kept gardens, dart out in every direction. Dogs get a free run of the grounds except for the lavish oil-painting-lined restaurant and walled vegetable garden, which supplies much of chef Tom Browning’s inventive seasonal dishes.

Looking for somewhere extra special? Book into one of the most romantic hotels in Devon. On a budget? Check out our pick of the best budget-friendly hotels in Devon, bookable on Culture Trip.

Mischa Smith contributed additional reporting to this article.

These recommendations were updated on February 22, 2022 to keep your travel plans fresh.

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