Holiday with your Dog in Devon
Dogs are welcome at Wheatland Farm’s Devon holiday lodges, and we can tell you about dog friendly local pubs, lovely Devon walks, and even which beaches you can visit with your dog. So rest assured your dogs will enjoy their Devon holiday too!
All our holiday lodge accommodation is dog friendly: maximum two dogs in any of Honeysuckle Lodge, Nuthatch Lodge and Beech Lodge, Otter Cottage or Balebarn Eco Lodge . There is a £20 charge per dog in Balebarn Lodge.
Because we’re a nature reserve, and to help with the social distancing needed to tackle covid 19, we now ask you to keep dogs on a lead unless you’re inside your lodge. Additionally, we ask you not to take dogs into Popehouse Moor Site of Special Scientific Interest SSSI. But that still leaves 14 acres! We can tell you about good dog walks and lend you local maps.
Devon days out with your dog
Here are a few dog friendly ideas for days out near Wheatland Farm’s eco lodges.
- The Kings Arms in Winkleigh is a lovely thatched pub that does local beers and cider (Winkleigh’s own cider), and serves good food. Dogs are welcome at the bar.
- There are lots of lovely Devon walks near Wheatland Farm. Then there’s rugged Dartmoor, 11 miles away. But if your dog needs more even ground, try a day out on Devon’s Tarka Trail, starting at the Puffing Billy at Torrington (good cafe at hand!).
- National Trust properties usually welcome dogs in their grounds . The closest to Wheatland Farm is Finch Foundry, in the village of Sticklepath. It’s the last working water powered forge in England. There are nice walks here too, and dog friendly pubs.
- Castle Drogo, designed by Edward Lutyens, is 17 miles from Wheatland Farm on the edge of Dartmoor, and dogs on leads are welcome throughout the estate and informal garden areas. This property links seamlessly with Fingle Woods – so you can tramp for miles if you want to. The pub at Fingle Bridge does good food.
- Other National Trust properties within striking distance are Killerton House (21 miles), Arlington Court and the national carriage collection (including the Speaker’s Ceremonial Coach – wow!) about 27 miles from Wheatland Farm and the gorgeous Lydford Gorge about 20 miles away – for a lovely and sometimes adventurous walk through the gorge to the famous white lady waterfall.
- The village of Clovelly, about 30 miles from the eco lodges, is a major feature of the North Devon coastline. It’s a privately-owned village and there’s an entrance charge. But there’s often events, and once you’re there you can soak up the old time atmosphere.
- The Big Sheep, near Bideford, is a family ‘play park’ type day out where there’s plenty of shaded parking and some kennels where you can leave your dog if it’s hot.
- The nearest North Devon Beach, at Westward Ho! is 40 minutes drive from the cottage and lodges at Wheatland Farm. There’s always a section where you can take your dog, whatever the time of year.
- You can also take your dog to Summerleaze beach, at Bude, and on the southern section of Widemouth Bay all year round.
Dog Rules at Wheatland Farm’s Eco Lodges
Muttley says:
Of course, there are a few do’s and don’ts when you holiday at Wheatland Farm Nature Reserve and Eco Lodges.
- Dogs need to be on leads unless they are inside or on your veranda. There’s all that lovely wildlife that’s just begging to be sniffed, dug up or chased. Put that straight, I say. But no. Sadly, it’s not allowed. Shame! And apparently, there are even some people who don’t like dogs rushing up asking to play.
- The humans pick up dog poo with a bag and put it in a bin. Now why on earth would they want to do that?
- We’re not allowed in the SSSI part of Wheatland Farm – can’t think why – all those deer, foxes, pheasants, snipe etc need a good jump scare if you ask me – and what does it matter if I scrub up a few orchids while sniffing out a vole?
- I can’t go in the ponds either because the moorhens nest all summer – but personally I don’t like getting wet.
- My mates bring their own beds and usually a throw for furniture – spoils the fun for other dogs if you ask me, but apparently some people don’t like doggy sofas. Strange these humans…
- You’ll like it here coz you get to stay with your pack – dogs aren’t left in the accommodation (some pups can’t help having a good chew can they – and that gets expensive).
- There’s no cats – ‘cept the neighbours’ ones. Pity that. I wish people would bring their cats coz I love them. Couldn’t eat a whole one though…
- There are a few other rules, like not eating the chickens and not bothering livestock, but if you come to visit you’ll get all the details. If you want to check, sniff out the small print.
- (I think there might have been another one about not rolling in badger poo – but hey, I can’t be expected to remember everything all the time.)