Dog Friendly Holidays in Ilfracombe

What's available for dog owners

BritStays lists 15 dog friendly stays in the Ilfracombe region, and every one includes Pet Friendly among its facilities. Most are campsites. Camping accounts for 11 of the 15, with two hotels, one holiday park and one caravanning option making up the rest. If you'd rather have a proper bed than a tent or touring pitch, your options are limited, so start looking early.

Ilfracombe itself has 11 of the stays. The other four are spread across Combe Martin, Lynton, Barbrook and Ashford, with one in each. If you want to be based somewhere other than Ilfracombe, you're choosing a single place rather than comparing several.

Matching the stay to your trip

The listings don't say which stays are coastal and which are in the countryside, so check each one's location before you book. What they do tell you is the style of each stay, and that's a useful way to narrow things down.

Couples, or anyone who wants a room. The Carlton Hotel in Ilfracombe has a bar, a restaurant and disabled access. The Travelodge, also in Ilfracombe, has a restaurant and disabled access and is listed as Pet Friendly. Hotel dog policies often cover particular rooms only, so say you're bringing a dog when you book.

Families. Tarka Holiday Park in Ashford lists a swimming pool, evening entertainment and a playground. In Ilfracombe, Hidden Valley Park has a bar, a restaurant and a playground, and Sunnymead Farm Camping & Touring Site has a playground, toilets and a gift shop. If you're travelling as a bigger group, Combe Martin Beach sleeps 12 and lists a swimming pool, clubhouse and bar.

Simpler farm camping. Little Shelfin Farm Campsite lists toilets and is near a bus stop, which helps if you'd like to leave the car parked. Mullacott Farm has toilets and a picnic area. Caffyns Farm in Lynton has a bar, a restaurant and a cafe, so you won't be cooking every meal yourself.

A bit more comfort. Sunny Lyn Holiday Park lists a hot tub and a cafe. South Dean Camping has a spa, bar and restaurant. Lynmouth Holiday Park in Barbrook offers a hot tub, a cafe and takeaway food. If the weather turns, Greenacres Touring Caravan Park lists indoor areas. Dogs usually aren't allowed in spa, pool or hot tub areas, so plan for someone to stay with yours, or check what the site allows.

Facilities to check before you book

Every stay here is listed as Pet Friendly. Beyond that, the facilities vary a lot:

• Toilets: 10 of 15
• EV charging nearby: 7, including Watermouth Lodges
• Parking: 6
• Disabled access: 6
• Laundrette: 6, which is handy after muddy walks
• Bar: 6
• Gift shop: 6

Only six of the 15 list parking. If you're driving, confirm where your car goes. If you're camping, toilets aren't listed everywhere, so check that too.

Things to do once you're there

The region has a mix of heritage sites and small museums. National Trust properties nearby include Arlington Court and Hunter's Inn. Castle Hill and Watermouth Castle are listed under castles and heritage. For a rainy day, try the Lynton and Exmoor Museum or the Lynmouth Flood Memorial Hall.

Dog access often differs between grounds, buildings, cafes and shops at places like these. Check each one's own guidance before you set off, and have a plan for indoor visits, such as taking turns while someone walks the dog.

When to book and what to ask

There are only 15 dog friendly stays in the region, and most are campsites. That means room-based options are scarce: two hotels, one holiday park and one larger group stay. Popular holiday weeks tend to fill first, so if your dates are fixed, book as early as you can. Choosing a week outside school holidays usually gives you more choice.

When you enquire, ask:

• How many dogs you can bring, and whether there's a size limit
• Whether there's an extra charge per dog
• Which areas dogs can't use, such as bars, restaurants, pools or hot tubs
• Whether dogs can be left alone in the room, caravan or tent
• Where the nearest place to exercise your dog is

Get the answers in writing or by email before you pay. Pack towels, a long lead and your dog's bedding, and check the weather the day before you travel.