Dog Friendly Totnes

Totnes is a wholesome market town in the heart of the South Hams. Being centrally located, it’s a popular spot for those wanting to explore the surrounding South Devon countryside and it’s also a short drive to the beaches of Blackpool Sands on the Start Bay coastline and Goodrington Sands on the English Riviera.  

The town sits at the head of the Dart estuary which travels down the Dart Valley towards Dartmouth and Kingswear. It’s jam packed with a wonderful and eclectic range of independent shops and strives to be a real community town.  

Totnes is a much-loved holiday destination for those looking for a getaway with the pooch as it boasts plenty of great dog-friendly accommodations, attractions, walks and places to eat. 

Accommodation 

Dittisham Hideaway, Dittisham  

Just 30 minutes outside of Totnes is Dittisham, a calm and idyllic village sitting on the Rivier Dart. If you’re looking for a unique place to rest your head whilst on holiday, Dittisham Hideaway may be the place for you! 

Within their collection of accommodation, Dittisham Hideaway offer treehouses, American Airstream caravans and shepherd lodges tucked away in the trees of the grounds, allowing you to have an immersive and restful getaway.  

The dog-friendly treehouses are akin to staying in your own private mini-resort, sleeping up to two adults and three children with 1 large dog or two smaller pups. Each deck includes a hammock, sun loungers, a BBQ and a traditional wood-fired cedar hot tub. The shepherd huts are also dog friendly and allow up to two pooches. These huts are positioned in the old meadow of wildflowers with views down the wooded valley. Inside has been rustically decorated with a log burner and room to fit a family of six (two adults and four children).   

Classic Cottages 

Classic Cottages have a wide range of self-catering holiday homes just waiting to welcome you. From family-sized cottages to romantic cabins for two, they offer something for every holiday.  

Located all over the region, choose to stay centrally within Totnes or base yourself in one of the nearby towns or villages if you prefer a quieter retreat. Classic Cottages boast many dog-friendly homes so your four-legged friends don’t have to miss out on making some life-long memories with you.  

Boutique Retreats 

Specialising in high-end, luxurious properties, Boutique Retreats is certainly the place to look for a lavish holiday with your furry friend.  This self-catering holiday agency boast a stunning portfolio of luxury holiday rentals across Devon, including in and around Totnes. 

If you’ve dreamed of staying in an exquisite country manor house with a pool, a stunning listed town house in the heart of Totnes or fancy a quaint yet elegant nook with views of rolling hills, Boutique Retreats will have something for you. 

Sykes Holiday Cottages 

If you fancy a rural retreat, surrounded by gorgeous Devonshire countryside and awe-inspiring landscapes, Sykes Holiday Cottages are sure to have something to take your fancy.  

If you’re looking to book a self-catered, dog-friendly holiday in one of the many wonderful villages surrounding Totnes, with a catalogue of converted chapels, rustic log cabins or quirky yet charming cottage, you’re sure to find the perfect property for you. 

Things to do 

Totnes Market 

Held every Friday and Saturday in the Civic Hall Square, Totnes Market brings a huge variety of stall holders selling many homemade and locally produce goods from elegant jewellery and hemp ponchos to free range chicken eggs! It’s truly a market that has it all.  

This market square has been home to bustling weekly markets for many hundreds of years. Even if you’re just ‘window shopping’ you’ll be sure to enjoy the busy yet humble atmosphere that the market provides. However, from experience, it’s almost impossible to have a browse without something catching your eye… or your nose! The variety of food here is simply to die for, authentic Nepalese curries, aromatic falafel wraps, gooey chocolate brownies and freshly baked breads are just some of the produce you won’t be able to ignore. 

The beauty of it being outside means dogs are able browse the stalls with you, you may even be able to pick up a tasty treat or a unique toy for them. 

Sandridge Barton ‘The Home of Sharpham Wine’, Stoke Gabriel 

Situated in a sheltered valley in Stoke Gabriel, just a 10-minute drive from Totnes, is Sandridge Barton; a vineyard on the banks of the River Dart.  

At their brand-new winery visitor centre they offer both guided and self-guided wine and cheese tastings as well as vineyard and winery tours. Sandridge Barton have a small farm shop selling their tantalising range of wines, Sharpham Dairy cheeses and other local produce, plus you can walk around their various woodland and vineyard trails or have lunch in their restaurant, Circa. You can read more about Circa in the food & drink section below.  

This attraction is an absolute must if you’re a foodie wanting to sample some of the best local food and drink that South Devon has to offer. 

Buckfast Abbey, Buckfastleigh 

A short drive up the A38 from Totnes will land you In Buckfastleigh, a beautiful market town home to Buckfast Abbey, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. The Abbey is nestled within a valley, providing unbeatable views and is where a community of Roman Catholic Benedictine Monks live, work and study.  

Whilst dogs aren’t permitted inside the Abbey Church and Monastery, they are allowed to be walked around the beautiful gardens on a short lead, leaving you to bask in the wonderful atmosphere of the grounds and admire the stunning architecture of the church.  

South Devon Railway, Buckfastleigh 

Embark on a magical journey through the South Hams countryside with a trip on the historic and iconic South Devon Railway. This former branch line of Great Western Railway travels between Buckfastleigh and Totnes.  

The gleaming GWR steam engines haul carriages of passengers through the countryside, allowing them to witness the wonderful wildlife along the River Dart, most of which cannot be seen from the road.  

Your four-legged friends are absolutely welcome to join you on board the South Devon Railway and many have been known to receive a treat or two from the friendly conductors! 

Food & Drink 

Whilst holidaying in Totnes you’ll be grateful to hear that many of their cafés, restaurants and pubs are dog friendly. Here are just a few of our favourites nearby. 

The Pig & Whistle, Totnes 

The perfect pre or post-walk stop off is The Pig and Whistle, a cosy and traditional pub with log burners and friendly staff waiting to welcome you in. The pub sits just outside of Totnes in a village called Littlehempston, surrounded by stunning countryside and a number of footpaths to take your dog out for a rural walk. 

Using local produce from land to sea including Dartmouth fresh fish, meat from award winning local butchers, seasonal vegetables and Exmouth mussels, The Pig & Whistle has plenty to tempt you with. If you visit on a Sunday you may be happy to know that they offer a wonderful traditional Sunday Lunch complete with all the trimmings, or simply enjoy a glass of locally produce wine or beer on their deck in the sun.  

Circa, Stoke Gabriel 

We briefly mentioned Circa earlier, which shares its home with Sandridge Barton, but it certainly deserves an honourable mention again.  

Located inside an old stone milking parlour, Circa is all about social dining, sharing and showcasing the best produce from the estate and local area. It’s truly a place to relax, unwind and sit back with some freshly made food paired with a lovely glass (or bottle if you’re not driving!) of wine.  

Circa’s aim is to provide quality food with sustainability at the forefront, meaning an ingredient-led approach is taken, reflected by the season and produced as organically as possible without compromising on taste or flavour.  

Radius 7, Stoke Fleming 

If you’re looking for an excellent dining experience near the beach during your Totnes stay, Radius 7 is located a short walk from the award-winning blue flag beach of Blackpool Sands.  

This restaurant is situated within the Leonards Cove Holiday Village, styled with a chic rustic design and offering stunning sea view dining, Radius 7 created dishes inspired by countries around the world using fresh, local and seasonal produce.  

Whilst the menu changes to suit the season, you can expect dishes similar to Lemon Pepper King Prawns and top of the range sirloin steak – yum! For a boutique dining experience we’d highly recommend a trip to Radius 7.  

*Please note that dogs are permitted in the bar area for dining but not in the main restaurant. 

Walks 

Totnes has so many wonderful walks for you and your four-legged friend to enjoy. Whilst all of these are dog friendly walks, please be aware that some of these trails will cross land with grazing livestock so will require your dogs to be placed on a short lead.  

Totnes Town Trail 

Totnes is well-known for its historic high street, but the town’s past truly seeps through the walls of the building in the lanes joining Fore Street.  

Admire the fine architecture of the Castle, the Guildhall and St Mary’s Church. You’ll also come across a number of small green spaces which offer the town a wonderful haven for wildlife.  

This trail takes only around 60 minutes to walk but you’ll be surprised with how much there is to see! Be aware that there is a steep up-hill gradient as you walk to the top of Fore Street but thankfully there’s plenty of places to enjoy a coffee and a piece of cake! 

Totnes to Dartington 

Running for two miles along the River Dart (four miles round-trip), the Totnes to Dartington trail makes for a wonderful dog walk. Starting at Totnes, either from the town centre or the train station.  

You’ll walk through some beautiful woodland and reach the Cider Press Centre, where you can pause to browse their wonderful array or shops to stop for a bite to eat.  

For a longer walk carry on to Dartington Hall where you can visit the estate and deer park. The walk loops back onto the original trail so you can return to Totnes at the end of your walk. 

Dart Valley Trail 

For mesmerising views across the beautiful Totnes countryside, follow the Dart Valley Trail from the town centre towards Dartmouth.  

This picturesque route follows the River Dart through vast wooded areas and lots of idyllic villages such as Dittisham and Ashprington, as well as plenty of dog-friendly pubs serving the best local food and drink – it’d be rude not to stop for a pint or two! 

The entire walk is some 16 miles long, which is entirely do-able, but you may want to spread it out over a number of days or only walk a section of it. 

If this piques your interest, but you don’t want to stray too far from Totnes, we’d recommend taking the path towards Sharpham. It has plenty of stunning scenery to admire and Sharpham House is a great pit stop to take a break before returning back to Totnes. 

Totnes Castle to Berry Pomeroy Castle 

If you enjoy a walk sprinkled with a side of history then you’ll certainly enjoy walking from Totnes Castle to Berry Pomeroy Castle – especially if you choose to take a peek inside these two bygone castles.  

Standing proudly at the top of the high street, Totnes Castle has been overlooking the town for many centuries, in fact it’s one of the best preserved examples of a Norman motte and bailey castle in England. Roughly four miles from here is Berry Pomeroy Castle, a Tudor mansion within the walls of an earlier castle, built in the 15th century but abandoned by the 1700s. 

The castle is tucked away in a deep, wooded valley meaning it’s a wonderful place to enjoy a peaceful walk through nature with your pooch in tow.  

 

If you’re looking for other places in South Devon to enjoy a dog friendly holiday, take a look at our dog friendly page here. We’re sure that wherever you go in the region, you’ll enjoy all that we have to offer. 

We love seeing your pup pics, so if you share any photos of your pup in Totnes feel free to tag us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook for a chance to be reposted on our page!