Why Autumn and WInter is the perfect time to book a dog-friendly break

With woodland paths thick with golden leaves to bounce through, stretches of open beach to bound along and dog-friendly pubs fit with roaring log fires, autumn and winter are a fantastic time to escape on a dog-friendly break.

The crowds from the warmer months have faded along with the extreme heat meaning restrictions across many of the beaches are lifted and paws will be happy to explore the sand and coastal paths from sunup to sundown – paw-fection!

Here are just some of the reasons we think autumn and winter is the best time to arrange a dog-friendly winter break! For tips on useful pet-friendly information whilst in the area, head to our dog guide!

Beach restrictions

As the windbreaks and crowds fade into distant memory many of the dog restrictions on the larger beaches are lifted from the beginning of October, this means we see the return of dog walkers and early morning joggers to the shores once more!   

North Devon is home to some amazing open beaches with shallow entry meaning your pooch can run wild and frolic safely in the white water and with the sea at some of its warmest temperatures in October, it’s the perfect time for a doggy paddle!

Here are a few of our favourite doggy-friendly beaches to enjoy.

• Woolacombe Beach – dog-friendly beach all year with some restrictions lifted from October
• Saunton Sands – dog-friendly beach all year round
• Putsborough – dog-friendly beach all year round with some restrictions lifted from October
• Hele Bay – dog-friendly beach all year round
• Lynmouth beach – dog-friendly beach all year round
• Broadsands – dog-friendly beach all year round
• Barricane beach – dog-friendly beach all year round some restrictions lifted from October

For some more off-the-beaten-track, dog-friendly beach holiday inspiration read our Secret Beaches blog!

Dog-friendly pubs

Autumn brings seasonal foods in abundance, it’s a time where the bushes are alive with berries and the kitchen gardens are full with vegetables to be harvested. It is a great time to be eating out in the UK as it really is the time of year when our ingredients can be freshest and at their tastiest, and with the North Devon coastal restaurants and pubs quietening down it means your pooch can come along too without fear of getting lost in the crowd!

For the perfect autumn dog walk gastro pub experience, we recommend heading to the Hunters Inn and working up an appetite by walking the coast path down towards Heddon’s Mouth. The walk will take you through deep ancient woodland so you will really get to enjoy those autumnal colours whilst you follow the river Heddon down to where it meets the sea between some of England’s highest and most dramatic cliffs. This is an SSSI as the site is home to a variation of wildlife including otters, deer, varied bird species and rare butterflies.

When you head back to The Hunters Inn look out for the resident peacocks and enjoy your food outside next to the heaters or within the bar area with dogs.

Another great option is to head to The Black Venus Inn, this charming stone-built pub is the quintessential English pub dream! If you are looking for a cosy pub with a roaring fire set in the Exmoor National Park then this pub ticks all the boxes!

It’s a great place to start or finish a good dog walk, which there are plenty of very close by, we recommend parking up near Pinkery Pond and following the path towards the pond. Explore these beautiful paths for as long as you please before heading back into Challacombe to The Black Venus for a wholesome meal! A range of dog snacks are also available for your four-legged dinner date to enjoy!

Earlier Sunsets

Shorter days mean we get the chance of golden hour earlier each day! The clear dry autumn and winter air allows for some amazing hues across to our chosen scene plus the sun sits lower in the sky meaning the light reaches us at a flatter angle, easier on the human eye plus less humidity means less haze – autumn/winter really IS the season of spectacular sunsets! 

And with fewer people around the sunset sets seem even more dramatic as you can soak up your amazing moment in peace and awe like you were the only person in the world to enjoy it- ahh but don’t forget your furry friend to snuggle up with and remind you how loved you really are!

One of our favourite places to soak up the wintery sunsets is Woolacombe beach where you can either hunker down in the sand dunes and watch the sun sink beneath the waves or play along the shoreline until the sunsets, either way, we recommend heading to a pooch friendly pub for a warm up afterwards! Either the Jube or Brundle’s are both super dog-friendly.

Woodland walks

For many of us autumn conjures imagery of woodlands with abundant canopies of reds, yellows, oranges and browns, North Devon is lucky to host a plethora of tree variations giving some magnificent autumnal displays!

Given that a dog’s sense of smell is 10K-100K times better than ours, it’s incredibly stimulating and enriching for them to experience a place with new smells. Make the most of nature’s performance and take your autumn dog walk through a woodland path, let them bound through fallen leaves and watch old dogs rediscover their young spirit, you never know you may find yourself joining in. You can explore 49 more great reasons to take your Dog on holiday here.

One of our favourite woodland walks is Watersmeet where you can follow the East Lyn River as it winds its way from Exmoor to the sea at Lynmouth, you can spot red deer, salmon, otters, and a wealth or bird life, there is also a great Dog-friendly café Watersmeet tea room if you need to refresh!

Coastal path walks

Autumn/winter is the perfect time to explore the southwest coastal path, with over 630 miles to explore with a variety of paths providing something for every walking ability no matter which you choose you will be sure to have a jaw-dropping view around every corner!

We especially recommend walking up towards the moorland at this time of year where you will find the heathers are abundant with colour and rich in fragrance and look particularly stunning against the blues of the ocean on a sunny day.

One of our favourite walks is up on Holdstone down where you can park up with no charge and wander one of the many footpaths along the headland through this untouched moorland with ancient settlements. Apparently, UFO spotters call this spot the ‘holy mountain’ and regularly gather here, see if you can spot mysterious pebble-shaped rocks left here by our extraterrestrial visitors!

Regardless of if aliens are on your agenda, this is an atmospheric walk non the less, the coloured bracken and heather are simply glorious, and the views will have you looking out towards Wales and Lundy island on a clear day. Dogs can run free but be aware when near the edge of the cliff, there is no fencing!

To explore more dog friendly walks around North Devon, check out our 9 best dog walks in North Devon guide

how to keep Your dog warm on winter walks

The answer to this question depends entirely on your pooch! Many dogs will not mind the cold depending on their breed or if they are properly suited and booted however, you should be responsible for taking your dog out in extremely cold conditions.

Low temperatures and wind child can cause your dog physical pain and potential health issues so this should not be taken lightly, but if well-prepared dogs enjoy being outside exploring in nature as much as we do (if not more) so do not let the weather dampen your spirits!

Here are our tips for keeping your dog safe and warm on your winter dog-friendly holiday.

First up, plan ahead– check the weather forecast and if you are planning a larger walk ensure the weather is clear and dry with less likely hood of heavy rain and strong wind chill, this will benefit everyone. If rain is forecast, choose a route that is more sheltered so your pooch can get some rest bite from the wet and cold.

Your dog’s breed should tell you alot about their tolerance for the cold but still look for cues, if they are winning, licking their paws frequently, or shivering these are common signs that it’s time to head home and warm up! Smaller dogs usually need an extra layer in colder months, consider dog coats to give them the extra comfort they may need to explore for a little longer.

If at all possible walk within daylight hours, not only is this safer for you both but it is the warmest part of the day for your pooch! The floor gets particularly cold at night and without shoes it can be uncomfortable on paws.

If it is dark outside use reflectors on their collars, harness or jackets, this helps them not only stay safe near any roadside but also enables you to see them better if they were to slip off the lead! LED light collars and fastenings are also useful on shorter days to ensure drivers and bicycles can see you.

Got your tail wagging? Book your dog-friendly break now!

Feeling inspired to treat you and your special friend this autumn winter, then check out our pet-friendly properties just a ‘balls’ throw from the award-winning Woolacombe beach, the paw-fect base to escape to and explore from together.

We also offer some fabulous ‘Doogy Hampers’ paw-fect for any dog lover! All hampers are nautically themed, environmentally friendly and sustainably sourced – even the toy floats, ensuring we maintain our beautiful stretch of AONB coastline!

Don’t forget to share your adventures with us by using the hashtag #ByronWoolacombe and we will share a selection of your photos on our social media pages.

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If you are looking for accommodation for your next North Devon beach-side holiday, make sure you check in to Byron’s luxury self-catering apartments!