Babbacombe Model Village, Torquay, TQ1 3LA
https://www.model-village.co.uk/
A charming model village with lots of different models to identify and puns to find (Lord Elpus Hall for example). Dogs are allowed everywhere except inside the cafe, but there are outside tables where you can sit with them. The site is very steep but the paths are good with rails along most of them. They usually have some kind of hunt for children (when we went it was finding the Easter eggs on the models) and there are inside attractions and crazy golf. Easy parking.
Berry Head, Brixham TQ5 9AP
https://www.countryside-trust.org.uk/explore/berry-head
Stunning location with a narrow road with passing places down to it. We took the motorhome there and managed ok and the car park was large enough to manoeuvre our motorhome but I wouldn’t like to try it with a larger one.
Good, level walk with a good path, fantastic views and the opportunity to explore further down the side of the Head. We kept our dogs on the lead – there are steep cliffs and we wouldn’t want to risk them chasing something and flying off the cliff. We had coffee and cake sitting outside the cafe (nice but quite expensive).
It was clearly popular with families and dog walkers and also used for school day trips.
Cockington Country Park, Torquay, TQ2 6XA
Beautiful country park with plenty of room for walks and playing plus cafe, rose garden, sculpture garden and craft shops. There are car parks in the village or there is a car park half way up the hill and one right at the top. The Drum Inn is good for food. The path from the car park at the bottom is quite steep but will bring you up to the rose garden, artisan shops and the court which contains a dog friendly cafe and a craft shop. The park is then spread out before you with plenty of room to walk and picnic. The further end of the park has a few parking spaces and the slope from there to the court is much more gentle.
Dartmouth TQ6 0JL
A lovely town to wander around and enjoy the view of the river. Plenty of dog friendly shops and cafes. Rather than try to park in the town, use the park and ride which accepts dogs.
Decoy Country Park, Newton Abbot, TQ12 1EB
Lovely large country park with lots of facilities including toilets, refreshment kiosk, sports fields and children’s play area.
The areas where you can let dogs off the lead are clearly marked and encompass wooded areas and streams that are shallow and slow running enough to be safe even in winter. The blue trail around the lake is wheelchair accessible and so easy walking even when it’s wet. There are frequent benches to sit and enjoy the views.
We visited on a Saturday when it was quite busy with families but still managed a good part of the walk with the dogs running free.
Although there is no inside cafe, there is a refreshment kiosk and there are dog friendly cafes in Newton Abbot itself – Lemon Jelli, the Country table cafe and Coffee #1.
Plymbridge woods, Plymbridge, PL7 4SR
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/plymbridge-woods
Beautiful and very extensive woods with a river that is deep enough for the dogs to swim in. Travelling down the main road you will often see deer sitting on the bank.
Plymouth – Canine dip and dive, PL7 5AD
https://pawsatthejunction.com/canine-dip-and-dive-plymouth
Brilliant fun – large outdoor pool that you can go in as well with them. Well supervised to make sure the dogs are safe.
Royal William Yard, Plymouth, PL1 3RP
Interesting area to walk around with many of the restaurants and cafes dog friendly. You can walk around the headland for views of Drake’s island.
Stover Country Park, Newton Abbot, TQ12 6QG
Devon County Council
Delightful park with a lake in the middle. Dogs must be on the lead on the path around the lake but can be off in the rest of the park. We discovered Stover Park during foot and mouth when Dartmoor and so many other places were closed for walking. There are a variety of walks including a Ted Hughes poetry trail and a shorter Children’s poetry trail.
Goldies on tour 