Discover Dog Friendly North Devon Holidays At Nutcombe Holiday Cottages

June 2. 2025

If you’re dreaming of a peaceful holiday with your furry friend, North Devon offers the perfect blend of stunning countryside, breathtaking coastal walks, beautiful beaches, and welcoming dog-friendly attractions, pubs and restaurants. And there’s no better place to base yourself than Nutcombe Holiday Cottages — a charming retreat that truly caters to both you and your dog’s needs.

Why North Devon?

North Devon is renowned for its dramatic coastline, rolling hills, and quaint villages, making it a paradise for outdoor lovers and their canine companions. From long coastal walks, sandy beaches, woodland walks along babbling streams and the wilds of Exmoor on our doorstep, it’s a place where dogs can roam freely and explore to their heart’s content.

Staying at Nutcombe Holiday Cottages

Nestled in the heart of North Devon’s countryside, Nutcombe Holiday Cottages provide a cozy, comfortable home-from-home experience for you and your dog. Our traditional cottages, converted from old barns, are surrounded by open fields with our own nature field, ideal for morning strolls with your dog before heading out for more adventure.

The cottages are thoughtfully dog-friendly, with solid oak floors in the living areas, secure gardens (Nutcombe Cottage) where your dog can play safely, as well as a large dedicated dog garden for off lead zoomies. You’ll find everything you need to relax after a day of exploring, including well-equipped kitchens, comfy beds, and cosy living spaces.

We make a small charge of £25 per stay for up to two dogs (not per dog). This is to cover additional cleaning costs and to help maintain our dog friendly areas.

What we provide for your pooch

Fully enclosed grassed dog garden with one metre high fencing
Nutcombe Cottage has it's own enclosed small garden also with metre high fencing
Cider House has it's own enclosed courtyard garden
Nutcombe Barn has it's own unenclosed terrace but is adjacent to our dog garden
A three acre field with a path cut out all the round so you don't get lost in the long grass
One throw for the sofas (please bring your own if possible)
Guide to dog friendly walks, pubs and beach guides
Stair-gates at the top of all stairs so dogs do not get downstairs to the bedrooms
Holiday ID tags with our details on, so you can be sure your pooch finds his way home if he gets lost
Dog poo bags in case you forget your own and dedicated dog bin
Tick Removers
Stainless steel dog bowl again in case you forget your dogs favourite
Doggy food mat
Small selection of toys

Dog-Friendly Activities Nearby

1. Beaches: North Devon is famous for its dog-friendly beaches, many of which allow dogs all year round. Our local beach at Combe Martin has two beaches. The main beach does have restrictions between the 1st May and 30th September, but Newberry beach right next door is dog friendly all year. Or head over to Woolacombe Beach or Saunton for miles of golden sand, both of which are dog friendly all year; perfect for fetch games and splash sessions. See our Dog Restrictions on North Devon Beaches page for full details of any dog restrictions on North Devon beaches.

2. Walking Trails:

The South West Coast Path runs through Combe Martin, offering spectacular views and varied terrain and is less than a mile up the lane from us at Nutcombe. Discover the Hangman Hills and Holdstone Down, the highest sea cliffs in the country, for spectacular 360 degree views just a mile away.
We are very lucky to have the wilds of Exmoor on our doorstep. Covering 267 square miles of North Devon and Somerset with over 600 miles of footpaths, you'll discover babbling streams, woodland walks, open moorland and outstanding countryside views. Exmoor is simply heaven for doggies and their owners.
For walks away from everyone, try the hundreds of acres of National Trust footpaths and bridleways of the Arlington Estate. Open for National Trust members and non members, just 10 minutes drive away. Or head up to Wistlandpound resevoir for a stress free stroll around the lake. Take a picnic and enjoy the peace and tranquility.
Braunton Burrows UNESCO World Heritage Reserve is another fantastic spot where dogs can roam freely. Make sure they've got good recall though as it's easy to get lost!
Heddons Valley walk is one of our favourites just 5 minutes drive away. Following the river down to Heddons Mouth to a lovely stoney beach at the bottom. Finish up with a visit to Hunters Inn for a refreshing drink, lunch or cream tea (see below).

For more information on local walks, head to our Activities page of our website for more ideas.

3. Local Pubs and Cafés: Many pubs and cafés in North Devon welcome dogs with open arms. After a day of adventure, enjoy a hearty meal or a cream tea alongside your four-legged friend. Some of our favourite pubs include the Fox & Goose at Parracombe, The Black Venus in Challacombe and Hunters Inn, all within a 10 minute drive from Nutcombe. Or for gorgeous tea and cake head to The Storm in a Teacup at Watermouth Bay, Bobbies Bakes in Combe Martin or many of the lovely tea rooms on Exmoor. See our Eating Out page on our website for more ideas.

Tips for a Great Stay

Pack for your dog: Bring their favourite toys, bedding, poo bags and plenty of treats.
Respect local rules: Always check signage for dog restrictions on beaches and trails.
Stay Safe: Keep your dogs on a lead around livestock or near cliff edges
Respect our dog house rules: We don't ask much, just that you use throws for the sofas, keep out of bedrooms and not left unattended. For more information please see Your Dogs Holiday page of our website

What our Guests Say

Here are a few dog friendly comments from our guests reviews:

'Our dog LOVED the garden - a well sized private enclosed garden, plus the enclosed dog garden for a run off the lead AND the bigger, beautiful meadow further down to enjoy!' Nutcombe Cottage Laura, David, Sam and Ozzie the dog Oct 24

'Great enclosed dog area, large hilly field on the property for exercising the dogs and can definitely recommend the cottage with its enclosed safe garden, a great place for adults and 4 legged friends' Nutcombe Cottage Jools, Mark and 2 dogs Sept 24

'Star points for the dog paddock and amazing field; got my step counts up as well as the fur girlies.' Nutcombe Cottage Julie, Mark, ruby and Lily the dog Sept 24

'Very dog friendly with a dog garden close by and a lovely walk in the lower field.' Nutcombe Barn Vicky, Roy and Charlotte Aug 24

'Every thing was amazing and our dogs were spoilt rotten with a large garden and massive field to exercise in' Nutcombe Barn Lynn and family April 24

'Worked well for introducing the dogs and the garden was very useful for the dogs. Dogs felt very welcome as did the people' Cider House Westoby Family apr 24

'The dogs were welcome in the cottage and cafes, restaurants and shops in the nearby village. Cider house The Cousins Feb 24

Final Thoughts

A holiday at Nutcombe Holiday Cottages gives you the chance to experience the best of North Devon’s natural beauty without leaving your dog behind. Whether you’re hiking the coast path, lounging on the beach, or enjoying local hospitality, it’s a destination that welcomes dogs and owners alike. North Devon truly is dog friendly!!

Ready to book your next dog-friendly getaway? Nutcombe Holiday Cottages are waiting to welcome you both!