The scoop August 2018

Ideas for you and your pooch, from places to stay to dog-friendly outings.

Good times afoot at the Hound of the Baskervilles!

After a complete refurbishment, the Royal Oak in Ashburton reopened last year as the Hound of the Baskervilles. New investment has seen a fresh new look emerge, with a ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ and Sherlock theme running throughout.

Air conditioning in the main restaurant and café, plus a cosy bar and pretty courtyard gives every hound and its owner a unique experience. Offering quality pub food from breakfast time onwards, as well as local Devon roasted coffee and scrumptious cakes, plus the team’s own gelato ice cream and ‘dog lollies’ and special pick and mix dog lolly bites, this really is a hound’s haven! Naturally made, hypo-allergenic doggie meals in various flavours are also available, as well as take away picnics for pooches, which go hand in hand with the wonderful array of nearby walks.

For more information call 01364 652700 or visit www.thehoundofthebaskervillesroyaloak.co.uk

Keep their tails wagging at Odle Farm Holiday Cottages!

Odle Farm’s quiet location is perfect if you want to get away from it all, yet just a short drive will take you to the bustling market town of Honiton. Situated on the border between Devon, Dorset and Somerset, by staying at Odle Farm you’re within easy reach of all that this stunning region has
to offer.

Delightful holiday cottages are arranged around a peaceful courtyard, surrounded by ten acres of grounds, and are equipped with everything you need to make your stay relaxing – from TVs and DVD players, to comfortable beds, toasty wood burners, hot tubs and an all important view.

The best part is that four legged friends are made extremely welcome at Odle Farm, with Willow and Wisteria cottages both being dog friendly. There are plenty of walks available too, thanks to the nearby Blackdown Hills countryside.

For more information call 01404 861105 or visit www.odlefarm.co.uk

Waggly tails welcome at The Salty Monk, Sidmouth

Light and airy with views of award-winning gardens, The Salty Monk restaurant in Sidmouth has held two AA Rosettes for the last 13 years, offering a fantastic wine list and being recommended in the Good Food Guide as well as by Michelin!

There are plenty of walks nearby too that you and your pooch can enjoy together, and because the restaurant is open to well-behaved hounds on leads, you can sate your country air appetite in style while your furry friend gets their own water and food bowls, as well as treats, bedding, a cage and gourmet dinners!

So, if romping down the National Trust Byes into Sidmouth, enjoying a paddle in the sea at Jacobs Ladder, before heading back to first class dining (for man and dog alike!) sounds like your cup of tea, be sure to visit The Salty Monk in Sidmouth this summer!

For more information call 01395 513174 or visit www.saltymonk.com

A pawfect adventure!

With Devon being home to so many fantastic dog-friendly places to visit, and some of the best walking spots in the south west, why limit your time here to just one place? Whether your pup enjoys exploring the coast or countryside, a break with South West Camper Hire offers the chance to explore it all, whatever the weather!

All vehicles come fully equipped with everything you’ll need on the road and with a wide range of sizes available to hire, from popular VW ‘go anywhere’ vans to spacious Fiat motorhomes, there’s no need to leave your four-legged friend at home.

Start your adventure today and enjoy the freedom of the open road with a camper holiday!

For more information call 01392 811931 or visit www.swcamperhire.com

Dapper dogs love Honiton Dog Grooming

Offering a range of grooming services, whether it’s introducing your new puppy to grooming, or hand stripping your show dog in preparation for an upcoming event, Honiton Dog Grooming, headed up by Georgie Sansom, is a fantastic local business with years of ownership experience with a number of different breeds.

Georgie is OCN Diploma 3 qualified, having been hand stripping various breeds for over three years, including her own dogs. She also shows one of her dogs – an Italian Spinone – who qualified for Crufts last year after placing first in Junior class in her first show! It’s fair to say then that Georgie knows her stuff and is well practiced in the traditional form of hand stripping, which is a crucial grooming technique for a number of breeds.

If you want to keep your dog looking top of their class, why not book an appointment with Honiton Dog Grooming?

For more information call 07746 414005 or visit www.honitondoggrooming.wordpress.com

Dog friendly stays at Salcombe Shepherd Huts

Situated in the heart of the South Hams, just a mile and a half from sailing mecca Salcombe and five miles from the market town of Kingbridge, Salcombe Shepherd Huts offers truly stunning accommodation, and dogs are welcome! There are four luxurious shepherd huts to choose from should you want to try something different, including two new, roomier huts with their own en suite toilets! Built from sustainable Devon trees, the huts feature solid exposed beams, beautiful wooden windows and a handcrafted mezzanine with full double bed, creating plenty of extra floor space and removing the hassle of making your bed every night!

Walk the South West Coast Path or head to the nearby dog-friendly beach; visit Salcombe and soak up the estuary views, or head to Kingsbridge and absorb the history of this ancient market town. However you and your hound spend your holiday, Salcombe Shepherd Huts is the perfect base from which to explore the South Hams.

For more information call 01548 843635 or visit www.salcombeshepherdhuts.co.uk

Take a load off at the Mitre Inn, Witheridge

The Two Moors Way – Devon’s coast-to-coast walking route – passes through the village of Witheridge, with The Mitre Inn sitting directly on the route, providing walkers, cyclists and dog walkers comfortable overnight stays as they make their way from one shoreline to the other.

Traditionally decorated, there’s the distinct feel of an old country pub here, but historically the building has served a number of purposes, including housing the local vicarage. It also served as the village’s first veterinary practice, so it has a history of being dog friendly!

The menu features a host of English pub favourites, using free range seasonal meats to create weekly specials, all geared towards sating your country air appetite. The five comfortably furnished rooms (two of which are dog friendly) offer the perfect sanctuary after a long day walking from coast to coast.

For more information call 01884 861263 or visit www.themitreinn-witheridge.co.uk

Dinner and a show at Puffing Billy Trading Co.!

Nestled in the heart of the Tarka Valley with the river Torridge cascading by, the Puffing Billy Trading Co. team pride themselves on being one of only two remaining terminal stations for the Atlantic Coast Express route.

At the station you’ll find a selection of seating areas, including a formal dining space, more laid back sofa seating as well as a wonderful beer garden in which you can relax with your pooch.

As well as serving great food, the walls here are adorned with art and the space is lucky enough to play host to a wide range of touring exhibitions, which are usually updated every six to eight weeks.

So, for a hearty meal made of Devon’s rich, local produce, followed by a leisurely perusal of the current exhibition, be sure to head to Puffing Billy Trading Co. this summer!

For more information call 01805 623050 or visit www.puffingbilly.co.uk