Dog-friendly lodge holidays in beautiful Devon

Bring your dog on holiday

It is a fact that many of us won’t go on a holiday unless we can take our dogs with us – our four-legged friends are often an absolutely integral part of our family – whatever shape or form that ‘family’ takes – and going away happily without them is unimaginable.

It was one of the reasons we first fell in love with Roadford Lake Lodges – their welcoming attitude towards having our dogs in the stunning lodges. Our three lodges Heron, Snowdrop and Hornbeam are all dog-friendly and will happily welcome your beloved pooches – especially if they’re well-behaved!

Photos courtesy of Sam Hussey Photography

Scenic dog walks from the lodge

There’s lots nearby to enjoy with your dogs. On your doorstep are the stunning Roadford Lake, its easy woodland paths and the wonderful dog-friendly Roadford Lake café just a few minutes’ walk away which is very welcoming to dogs. Keep an eye out for a jar of doggy biscuits when you visit.

How to find the dog exercise area at Roadford Lake

Around Roadford Lake dog owners are asked to keep their dogs on a lead but there is a dog exercise area. To find it, walk from the café towards the car park. Walk to the second level, where you see a wooden gate leading into a wooded, fenced-off area with a stone dog-poo bin beside it. In here dogs are free to run around off the lead.

Walkies on Dartmoor

A 15-minute drive away of course you’ve the whole of Dartmoor National Park with all the walking it offers including some unique and spectacular spots like the majestic National Trust’s Lydford Gorge.  Enjoy a wander around the Haytor Rocks with panoramic views. For the more avid walker follow the Tavy Cleave and Hare Tor walk. From Roadford you have a choice of North Dartmoor walks, with the High Willhays, the tallest Tor on Dartmoor and castles to explore. Or South Dartmoor walks take in Burrator Reservoir and the many surrounding tors, with Princetown beyond and the famous Dartmoor Prison.

We have plenty of further information on our walking and cycling from Roadford Lake, page, both on Dartmoor and the nearby coastal paths.

Keep in mind when walking on Dartmoor that the Dartmoor National Park has a dog code with guidance and information before venturing out on your adventure.

Muddy paws

The park has its own ‘dog wash’ area for muddy paws and a couple of convenient ‘poo bins’ on site.

Happy dog-owner guest reviews

Many of our guests leave comments in our guest books about the wonderful nearby walking opportunities including recently

“Lots of beautifully scenic walks” “peaceful countryside and some great trips out” “great walks and lovely views” “Even our dog found it to be a home from home!”

Dog-friendly beaches in Devon and Cornwall

The ideal time to enjoy a walk with your dog on Devon and Cornwall’s beaches is out of the school holidays in the off-peak times when there are fewer restrictions. However, there are plenty of dog-friendly beaches open all year round, making it a real “dog’s day”out.

Here is a list:

• Dog-friendly beaches in Devon
• 10 dog-friendly beaches in Cornwall, open all year round
• Dog-friendly beaches in Cornwall

Alder Vineyard breakfast and Charcuterie platter

Dog-friendly places to eat near Roadford Lake

As well as walks there are many other local cafes, pubs and restaurants which are very dog-friendly.

• Alder Vineyard Café and Tea Room, winner of a Devon Gold Best Café and Tearoom of the Year. Open Wed-Sun for breakfasts, lunch and cakes. Comes highly recommended.
• The Clovelly Inn – if you wish to eat inside, it’s worth booking and requesting a dog-friendly table as these are limited.
• The Village Inn at Ashwater 01409 211200
• The Fox and Grapes in Lifton 07909 102167
• The Dartmoor Inn at Lydford
• The Castle Inn at Lydford
• The Pump and Pedal great food and bike hire
• The Arundell in its bar and deli
• The National Trust’s Lydford Gorge café
• Strawberry Fields farm shop is well worth a visit and only 10-minutes’ drive down the A30. Although dogs are currently only able to access its outdoor spaces and tables, It is soon to unveil its new dog-friendly café and restaurant – we can’t wait!

Holiday lodges with secure spaces

Snowdrop and Heron are particularly lucky and unique in having an enclosed patio – we can’t promise that agile or determined dogs wouldn’t be able to escape but for most dogs it provides an enclosed and secure space to enjoy.

A recent guest in Snowdrop left a review saying

“We had a wonderful stay at Snowdrop Lodge! Such a spacious lodge with plenty of room for all of the family & doggo’s! The view of the lake was a particular highlight along with plenty of activities & places to go for days out as a family. Being able to sit in the hot tub & watch the cows roaming was pure bliss! Having the outside fully enclosed was a must have for us to be able to let our dog out without having to worry about him. Thank you for having us!”

One of Heron’s recent guests left a review saying

“We stayed with our rescue dog for a week in July the lodge was amazing, so well equipped and the owners had thought of everything even down to doggy treats. The hot tub and enclosed garden allowed us to relax without worrying where our dog was and the view over the meadow was beautiful. The site was great so peaceful and private couldn’t have asked for more from the location with the woods and lake literally on the doorstep peaceful walks in the beautiful woods …. Amazing. If the opportunity arises we’d be back 100%”

Doggy Day Care for Roadford Lake

When on holiday sometimes the day trip or visit you’re wanting to make isn’t appropriate for your furry friend and this can be a challenge – it’s too far, not dog-friendly or perhaps the weather is simply too hot. If you needed to go on a special day and can’t include your dog, it’s always worth considering local doggy daycare.

At Roadford we are lucky to have nearby Launceston Woof and Wander Doggy Day Care an excellent organisation open during the week. They provide “top quality care to dogs in an exciting, safe and enriching environment” and have a large secure outdoor paddock as well as an indoor play barn for their doggy guests. They come highly recommended by previous guests staying at Snowdrop who couldn’t take their dog with them one day due to the heat during their visit this summer. The family left us a kind and helpful message saying

“Had a fabulous week away! Easily accessible to get to everywhere you need & want to go. The cows came to meet us every morning with the sheep and even sat & ate dinner with us! On days too hot to take our dog out we booked him in at Woof & Wander in Lewannick and he was happy to go back, had a fabulous time and loved his new found friends. We had a day out at Lydford Gorge waterfall and it was gorgeous. Also went to Plymouth, Polperro & Padstow.”  Worth considering if you’re staying and find yourself in that situation.

And for all our guests, with or without dogs, the hardworking cleaning team are super vigilant at cleaning the lodges to an extremely high standard so that they are left spic and span whoever has been staying before you!

We hope we can welcome you and your doggy friends soon!

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