Treat yourself and your furry friend to a stay in an apartment with a garden and views over an elegant marina, or check into a seaside hotel with ample nearby walking trails.
There are even luxury spa hotels with large indoor pools and calming treatment rooms within easy reach of Dartmoor National Park, where you and your pet can roam to your hearts’ content. Enjoy a peaceful weekend at a country inn nestled deep in the moors, or uncover local fishing villages at a historic coastal pub hotel.
Set within 19 acres of woodland and overlooking the sea, the Langstone Cliff Hotel sits within an abundance of natural beauty. Here, your dog is more than welcome to share your break – just call the front desk in advance to reserve one of the designated pet-friendly rooms. From the colourful canvas art on the walls to the comfy striped armchairs and cosy throws, refreshing blue tones feature throughout this seaside hotel. Once ensconced in your room, lie back on your pocket-sprung mattress while your pet snoozes away. Make sure to bring their own bed and food, however, and keep them on the lead whenever you’re in the hotel grounds.
Take your travel companion for an early morning stroll across the green lawn, then spend an afternoon discovering the South West Coastal Path, which is just a five-minute walk from your hotel. The 500-acre Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve is also a short 20-minute stroll away. Bring a pair of binoculars for spotting the many species of rare wading bird that frequent the grasslands.
Traditional cream teas, with fresh scones and thick clotted cream, are served throughout the hotel. On a warm day, take yours on the terrace overlooking the sparkling waves. The menu at the Lincoln Restaurant changes daily but is known to offer popular dishes like tender braised beef steak alongside a fresh cold buffet. For a refreshing afternoon beverage, sink into an armchair in the Lincoln Bar and sip on a local draught beer.
Relax in the lap of luxury with your dog at the four-star Dart Marina Hotel and Spa. Pets are welcome to stay in the hotel’s Garden rooms and suites which are ideally located on the ground floor and have sweeping views of the River Dart. Let your dog snooze on your private terrace while you relax on the handmade double bed with its cosy cotton linens. Each room is decorated in pale turquoise and cream hues and features rich, dark wood furniture. Bathrooms are equipped with luxurious drench showers, while each suite has its own Nespresso machine.
Beyond the hotel walls, boats calmly bob on the river in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, while Dartmouth Castle is an easy two-mile drive or walk away. Prepare for a day in the nearby Dartmouth National Park with a hearty full English breakfast at the River Restaurant, or have food and champagne brought to your room to eat on your own intimate balcony. In the evening, this AA Rosette-awarded eatery serves a seasonal menu featuring locally sourced produce.
Take some time for yourself and dip into the hotel’s spa. As well as the use of the pool, gym and fitness room, the spa offers dedicated treatment packages including full LumaFirm body wraps and Elemis facials. After an adventurous day spent exploring the Dartmouth area with your dog in tow, unwind with a deep muscle massage or a cleansing moor mud back ritual.
On the outskirts of Dartmoor National Park sits Boringdon Hall – a five-star Elizabethan manor house with spacious and pet-friendly courtyard rooms. On arrival, your dog will receive a warm welcome with a cosy bed, blanket and treats. While they try out their new cosy sleeping place – or gnaw on a few dog-friendly snacks – sink back onto your cosy double bed or sip on a fresh Dualit coffee in the comfort of your room.
From grand chandeliers to oak panelling and exposed beams, this 16th-century manor house has kept plenty of its original features. Take a seat in a classic Chesterfield armchair by the huge fireplace in the Great Hall and savour a Cornish cider after walking the wild terrain of leafy Dartmoor. Your pet can rest in your room while you head for an intimate dinner at the Wembury Restaurant. Sample delicious dishes like pan-fried scallops from the 3 AA rosette-awarded menu. After dinner, retire to the Grenville Room for a cocktail or find the right book on the trick bookcase to enter the hotel’s Secret Bar, which is open on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The hotel’s Gaia Spa will soothe muscles tired by adventurous treks across the craggy landscape. Experience the detoxifying powers of the Finnish sauna or crystal salt steam room, or take a dip in the large heated indoor pool. Destress with the help of an indulgent four-hand massage or try a Jade healing crystal facial to give your skin a rejuvenated glow.
With its stone façade and battlement-topped walls, the castle-style Bedford Hotel is a charming retreat from the modern world. Its 31 bright rooms are each sumptuously decorated with ornate wallpaper, plush furnishings and comfy double beds. If you’re looking for an extra touch of decadence, choose a large room with a four-poster bed and spa bath where you can unwind after a long country walk in the Dartmoor National Park.
Built by the Duke of Bedford on the site of a former Benedictine Abbey in Tavistock, the building comes with many old-world trimmings, from ornate paintings and silver antique decorations to lush green ivy climbing up the external walls. Your dog is more than welcome to join you on your stay – make sure to bring their bed from home so they have their own snoozing spot for post-walk naps. Upon arrival, your pooch will even be presented with their own goody bag of treats and useful accessories.
When you get peckish, head down to the restaurant to try the seasonal selection of all-day options. Feast on a large cooked breakfast with local additions like hog’s pudding, or savour a spot of afternoon tea in the hotel’s pretty walled gardens. Something to celebrate? Switch your hot brew for a glass of sparkling prosecco. The restaurant’s lunch and dinner menus are both packed with hearty fare, with dishes like Dartmoor beef and ale pie. After dinner, your dog can come and keep you company in the lounge or bar area for a quiet nightcap.
Found in the heart of Dartmoor, the Three Crowns Inn is a charming thatched grade II-listed building, complete with cosy log-burning fire. Call ahead to book one of the six dog-friendly rooms that have direct access to the communal courtyard, and ask at the front desk for any dog accessories you might need. Settle down for lunch in the snug or bar, or on the outdoor terrace with your dog and order from their pub classics menu – options include ale-battered cod and chips or a juicy 8oz rump steak burger.
To explore the great outdoors, take a stroll along the picturesque River Teign or head to the Dartmoor Prison Museum, which is surrounded by lush moorland where your pet can happily roam. After a day spent in the wild Dartmoor countryside, retire to a cosy armchair in front of the Inglenook fireplace and sip on your drink of choice. For something fruity, request the bar for a local Norcotts Cider. The cellars at the Three Crowns Inn also stock an impressive selection of locally distilled gins, including Whitley Neill.
Inside the Dartmoor granite walls, the hotel’s rooms offer a homely mix of period features and modern amenities. Rich, patterned textile headboards and wallpapers feature throughout, while original beams and inset window seats add to the period charm. Slip into your fluffy bathrobe, dock your iPod and sink into the comfy bed – these cosy rooms provide the ideal resting place for the dog-tired – pups and owners.
To escape the bustle of daily life, book a stay for you and your pet at the secluded Lydford Country House. Inside, the hotel is bright and simply decorated with traditional and warm wooden furnishings. Relax in a wicker armchair by your window overlooking the rolling hills, or climb into the four-poster or king-sized bed for a good night’s sleep under crisp white linens. To savour a long soak at the end of the day, pick a suite with a deep claw-foot bath in your spacious en suite.
This 19th-century hotel has 8 acres of manicured gardens and pastureland within the Dartmoor National Park and sits near the peaceful White Lady waterfall. Walk from the front door up to nearby Bray Tor: a rocky outcrop with stunning views of the surrounding moorlands. The hotel is also a popular spot for cyclists exploring either Route 27 or the Granite Way. Call ahead to book an airy room for you and your dog either in the main house or in Widgery’s Nest: a quaint self-catering cottage. If you’ve forgotten your dog’s bed, ask at the front desk to borrow one of their designated wicker baskets.
Head to the hotel’s brasserie restaurant for locally-sourced produce. Delicious cream tea with home-made scones and fruity jams from Hogs Bottom Preserves are served here mid-afternoon, while full English breakfasts with local bacon and sausages, kippers and porridge are rolled out each morning for guests.