How Dog Friendly is Salcombe? We Spent the Weekend Sniffing it Out

Famed for its sapphire skies, sandy beaches and rugged coastline, Salcombe and the surrounding area of South Hams is one of South Devon’s true gems.

But when it comes to being dog friendly, just how much of a hot spot is Salcombe?

We were invited by Salcombe Tourist Information Centre, to sniff out some of the top dog-friendly places to eat, sleep, and adventure in the area. 

We stayed at Bolberry Farm Cottages, which are located in a small hamlet just outside Malborough.

Hidden away up a network of winding narrow lanes, the cottages provide the perfect base from which to explore Salcombe, Kingsbridge and the surrounding area.

Away from the hustle and bustle of Salcombe itself, at Bolberry Farm Cottages you can expect star-studded skies and the cooing of owl song to break the nighttime silence. It is the ultimate place to escape.

Accessed via a gated driveway, these three holiday dwellings are a true home-from-home. 

From the minute we stepped over the threshold, we were instantly struck by the warm and homely feeling that awaited us. 

Buttercup Cottage

We stayed in Buttercup, which is on the end of the terrace of cottages.

All the cottages have enclosed gardens, and I immediately felt at ease knowing that the dogs could roam free and I had no need to worry. For me, having a secure outside area makes all the difference when you stay somewhere dog-friendly. 

The open-plan living room/ kitchen area provides a comfortable space to relax and unwind.

There are two comfy sofas to chill out and watch the Smart TV. And with an array of channels, Netflix and free Wi-Fi, you can stay connected with the outside world and keep your paw on the pulse! 

I will be honest I am no girl scout! So when I discovered a gas fire that I could operate with a remote control, it was somewhat of a relief! 

All the mod-cons

The well-equipped kitchen has everything you need to self-cater. Although there are so many dog-friendly pubs and restaurants in the local area, you don’t need to be a slave to the stove! 

I always dine in when we stay away, as I love to hunker down in the evenings with the dogs. And Buttercup cottage did not disappoint. With all the mod-cons you could wish for, it provided everything we needed for cosy nights in. 

Waiting for us in the fridge was a chilled bottle of wine, water, and milk. There were also fresh flowers on the table – all the little touches that make you feel like your hosts have gone the extra mile.

The cottage can sleep four people, and upstairs is a double bedroom and a spacious twin room. 

The bathroom is decked out in just the right amount of nautical memorabilia to make it feel satisfyingly seasidey. And with a shower over the bath, it fulfilled my bathing regime! [Nothing beats wallowing in the tub – a glass of vino in hand!]

For the Dogs at Bolberry Farm Cottages

Four-legged friends are very welcome at Bolberry Farm Cottages, and there is no additional charge for dogs. [Which is music to my ears!]

While there are no set house rules, guests must be respectful and tidy up after their dog/s. If your dog is used to relaxing on the furniture, you’re asked to bring your own throws and blankets. I never find this a problem as familiarity helps the dogs to settle more easily.

Downstairs there is hard flooring throughout, making it a very practical holiday rental. There is also a stair-gate to keep wet paws confined after walkies.

Dogs have their own tray of goodies on arrival, including treats, bowls, extendable leads, and poo bags. There are also dog tags that have the Bolberry Farm contact details on them. [Just in case your dog decides to take their own unguided tour of the area!]

Outside is a dog wash station to ensure paws are squeaky clean before entering your accommodation. 

The covered area provides a shower and doggy shampoo to hose your dog off after a day of bounding across Bolberry Downs.

The garden is completely enclosed, with a separate fenced-off area adjacent to the stable-style door. 

Dog Walks from Bolberry Down

You do not need to get in your car to go exploring! There are literally walkies a-plenty from your doorstep at Bolberry Farm Cottages. 

Soar Mill Cove and Hope Cove are within walking distance along the coastal path, and there are plenty of other dog-friendly beaches just a short drive away.

The hike up the hill to Bolberry Down is definitely a lung buster but worth it, as the views from the top are stunning.

If you have a dog who does not like traffic, I would advise parking in the National Trust car park instead of walking from the cottages. 

We encountered quite a steady stream of traffic on the narrow lane, and at times it was tricky to get out of the way of the cars. 

[Just as an aside, this particular area of Devon is National Trust heaven! So if you are a member, pack your National Trust ticket as it will save you a fortune in parking.]

From the car park at Bolberry Downs, you can take the path to the left, which leads to Soar Mill Cove. Or, if you head right, it leads to Hope Cove.

We decided to hang a left and head to Soar Mill Cove. As we started our walk, the sun was starting to break through the clouds, and the views as we descended toward the secluded, sandy cove were simply breathtaking. 

You can only access Soar Mill Cove via fairly steep and uneven footpaths, which means the beach is lovely and quiet. We had the cove to ourselves, and the dogs loved chasing each other around. 

What is there to do in Salcombe with dogs?

It is not hard to see why this seaside town is such a popular place to bring canine companions. Dotted with independent boutiques, traditional pubs, and sandy beaches, it’s a dog‘s paradise.

Salcombe is, without question, one of the most dog-friendly towns we have visited. In fact, they almost need ‘dogs not welcome’ signs, as it’s rare to come across anywhere, (shops or eateries) that don’t welcome our four-legged friends.

You are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining with your dog in Salcombe. As you know, the dogs and I love checking out the local cafés and eateries. So when we were invited to sample The Winking Prawn and The Salcombe Coffee Company, tails were wagging all around!

The Winking Prawn

Situated directly opposite North Sands Beach, this popular, quirky café is simply a must if you’re in the area. Never have we been anywhere that has made us feel quite so welcome. 

Dogs of all shapes and sizes were sitting quietly under tables, enjoying the company of their humans. For a dog-friendly advocate like me, it was a true delight to witness. 

The Winking Prawn is a family-run business and has been part of the landscape in Salcombe for twenty-five years. Having experienced their hospitality firsthand, I am not surprised that it is so popular (both with locals and tourists). They have clearly gone above and beyond to build up a sterling reputation.

The café has a relaxed, friendly vibe, and the staff go out of their way make you and your canine companion/s feel welcome. 

The menu was so extensive that it took me ages to decide which mouthwatering morsel to order! 

In the end I plumped for a brie, bacon, and chutney baguette, washed down with a small glass of rosé! Naturally, I always have something the dogs will enjoy too! [The brie and bacon, not the wine, that is!]

The Salcombe Coffee Company

Nestled in the heart of Salcombe High Street is The Salcombe Coffee Company. 

This sophisticated independent licensed coffee bar and bistro is not to be missed when you’re sniffing around Salcombe! 

With an impressive choice of cakes, sandwiches, and light lunches, I felt we had struck gold with this little gem.

It was nice and quiet when we arrived, which allowed us to catch up with the owner Andrew, and have a good old chat about all things dog-friendly. 

It transpires The Salcombe Coffee Company hasn’t always welcomed our canine companions. However, a few years ago, they changed their dog-friendly policy, and since then, they haven’t looked back. 

After putting the world to rights, it was time to drool over the menu! I opted for the brie and cranberry toasted-sandwich, and an iced latte.

My food arrived, beautifully presented on a mini chopping board, and the dog’s eyes lit up when a little pot of Burts crisps arrived too! 

The coffee house has a lovely relaxed vibe, with soft music playing in the background. I lost count of the number of people Andrew waved to while you were chatting. Evidently Salcombe Coffee Company has a great reputation with the locals, and I can see why. 

If you’re in Salcombe, you’d be missing a trick if you don’t pop into this fabulous dog-friendly haunt.

Dog-friendly Beaches near Salcombe

Like so many places there are dog restrictions on the beaches during peak holiday season, which is one reason I love visiting the coast in the Winter months! There are no dog bans, and you are free to adventure to your heart’s content!

If we were to visit every beach in the area, I reckon we would need to stay for at least two weeks!

There are so many to choose from, and of course, I wanted to experience every one of them firsthand [or should that be paw!]

By some miracle, we struck lucky with the weather and had wall-to-wall sunshine from the moment we arrived to the moment we left.

This meant I was in my element, and we were able to explore lots of the local beaches and coves. Click here for a list of dog-friendly beaches in the area.

South Milton Beach

With a backdrop of sand dunes and easy parking, South Milton beach is just idyllic.

Sweeping golden sands and a maze of rock pools mean you can spend hours here exploring. 

The beach is dog-friendly all year round, and the Beachhouse restaurant provides the perfect post-walkies snack stop. 

It’s famed for its locally caught fish and, by all accounts, the food is quite something. 

We only stopped for a coffee, but at some point, we will have to return to sample their fruits of the sea! 

Hope Cove 

Hope Cove is a picturesque little village just a mile or two down the road from Bolberry Farm Cottages.

Quintessentially English, the pretty narrow streets are all lined with colourful cottages, and there is a fabulous selection of places to eat. 

With three coves to explore, the dogs and I had a lovely time splashing about in the waves and posing on the rocks for me to take the odd photo or two! 

I mean, it’s not everyday you see dogs wearing bowties on a beach! We caused quite a stir, as you can imagine!

Bigbury on Sea

Reading through the visitor book at Bolbery Farm Cottages, the beach that kept coming up trumps was Bigbury on Sea. And I’ve saved the best for last, as this was our favourite beach by miles.

It goes on forever, and if you time it right as we did, you can walk across the causeway to Burgh Island, where they filmed Agatha Christie’s best-selling novel ‘And Then There Were None.’

When the tide is in, the sea-tractor takes you from one side of the beach to the other. It’s quite a feat of enginnering and one of a kind. It looked quite impressive, parked up in all its glory!

Popular with surfers and dog walkers, if you only visit one beach in the area, make it Bigbury on Sea!

We loved it so much that I decided to take the dogs back there for their final splash in the waves before making our way back to landlocked Wiltshire.

A Fond Farewell

The dogs and I have had the most-amazing weekend in South Devon, and we cannot thank Salcombe Tourist Information enough for inviting us to experience this doggy paradise firsthand.

The Salcombe Information Centre website is a wealth of information and well-worth checking out if you are planning a holiday in and around South Hams.

You can probably tell that we have totally fallen in love with the area. It is somewhere we will be returning to in the future. After all, we need to check out all the places we didn’t get time to visit on this adventure.

Salcombe tourist board arranged a complimentary stay and meals for us in return for an honest review.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading all about our doggy adventures in Devon! You can see more of our fabulous weekend away by checking out our Instagram story highlights.

As always, if you have any suggestions of places for us to visit on our next trip, please let us know.

Woofs and Wags

Kate, Gertie and Winnie

xox