Paws & Stay Blog

Albie the cocker spaniel and his human Dani from @the.devon.good.life love their local Devon beaches. Whatever your ideal beach holiday may be, there’s something for every seadog in Devon. For curious terriers there are rockpools to explore and for bounding retrievers there are miles of sand dunes to climb. Read on for Dani and Albie’s shortlist of the six best dog-friendly beaches in Devon.

Some tips from our team for anyone new to hitting the road with their back seat barker

Our team have shared the walks through the woods that get their dogs wagging their tails and running through the trees. Whether your dog is happiest proudly dragging a stick twice their size, leaping on the shadows cast by waving branches, or jumping into the biggest piles of leaves they can find, nothing beats a walk in the woods.

Summer is no longer a fond thought at the bus stop whilst you admirably, yet thoroughly, fail at defending against the great British sideways rain. It’s coming. And if this year’s anything like the last few, there’s also a good chance we’ll see some spicy summer weather. Our canine compatriots are rather poorly adapted to hot weather, and every year hundreds of dogs are hospitalised from heat stroke. It’s up to us to try and shield them from the worst of the heat.

From their daily dose of Vitamin Sea on the south coast, to those breath-taking breakwaters discovered on trips away – Rebecca Belleni and her cocker spaniel Crusoe (@crusoe_the_cocker) are happiest when enjoying the wonderful shores around the UK. Rebecca has shared six of her favourite dog-friendly beaches to explore.

We reckon there's an atmosphere that comes from being a really good dog-friendly pub. It's almost like being dog-friendly is a sign that says, “we're pretty relaxed here”. It means you won't find a dress code, serving staff in waistcoats or starched white linen in a silent dining room. This is going to be a casual, welcoming sort of place. So these pubs aren't just great and also dog-friendly, they're probably great, at least in part, because they're dog-friendly.

Whether your dog is happiest splashing in the river, sniffing out treats and treasures at the market, or storming a castle, there’s something to set every tail wagging in Totnes. We’ve picked out some of our team’s favourite discoveries from our recent trip. These are the places and experiences that made our time in Devon’s most bohemian town extra special for our dogs, and their humans.

The wonderful thing about planning a holiday, making lists, and ticking them off – is the fact you’ll probably still forget something, no matter how hard you try. But to make sure that something is a something, and not somethings, we’ve had our team talk to their dogs and created a checklist of the items they couldn’t do without when they’re on the road.

Every dog is different, that’s why we love them, but that also means each of their needs vary. Some dogs can run for miles and miles and never seem to get tired (not even after all those toy throws), while others are quite happy to just kip in front of the fire for hours on end. When it comes to booking a dog-friendly holiday, we know how important it is to find one that suits the whole family just right. That’s why we’ve pulled together a guide to booking the perfect place that’ll have happy tails wagging all holiday!

Pubs and dogs go hand in hand, which is why we've chosen 10 of our favourite in the UK for the upcoming festive period. Find cosy fireside spots for dogs to snooze post-walk, treats behind the bar and a welcoming scratch behind the ears on arrival.

A good dog-friendly holiday cottage is about more than having a basket in the corner. It should be welcoming and fun for all guests, both two and four legged. We’ve picked out five of our favourites, and while they might not be the most traditional holiday cottages you’ll ever see, they’ll set tongues and tails wagging with their character, charm and warmth.

Ditch the motorway service chains and head for gorgeous gardens, local farm shops, and independent pubs and dog-friendly cafés, where your dog will be warmly welcomed. These stop-overs have been chosen from The Extra Mile Guide, our sister company, to steer you away from mediocre and expensive motorway services and into the arms of the UK’s best independent foodie places all just a hop from a junction.

Our resident dog experts have shortlisted five of the best dog-friendly walks in the UK, for scenic trails you and the dog can enjoy together. Discover forest tracks, clifftop coastal paths, huge open fields and enormous expanses of beach that’ll leave both of you conked out on the sofa at the end of the day.

In the last year, we lived up to our reputation as a nation of dog lovers, with a record number of pups being given a new home. Now that travel has opened up again, there’s a brood of new dog owners dealing with the complexities of dog-friendly travel. If you’re one of those new dog owners, then don’t worry. Firstly, travelling with your dog has never been easier and the UK is full of stunning beaches, brilliant walking territory and cosy pubs to explore. Secondly, we’ve had our team of resident dog owners put together a few tips on going away as a bigger, furrier family.