Dog-Friendly Holidays in Devon
Welcome to Truly Dog-Friendly Accommodation
At Saunton Beach Villas, we embrace a genuinely dog-friendly ethos and welcome canine companions into all of our self-catering Villas throughout the year. Whether you are travelling with one dog or several, you will find everything you need for a relaxing and memorable holiday with your four-legged family members. There is no limit on the number of dogs you can bring, and we provide excellent dog-friendly facilities to make travelling with pets easy and enjoyable.
Dog-Friendly All Year Round
Dogs are welcome on Saunton Sands throughout the year, making it a rare dog-friendly beach destination in the UK. With 3.5 miles of golden sand, refreshing sea water and the enchanting sand dunes of Braunton Burrows right on our doorstep, Saunton Beach is a favourite with dog owners looking for space, variety and natural beauty.
For pups who prefer quieter time and space, you will easily find stretches of sand further along the beach or paths through the dunes that offer a peaceful setting for off-lead exploration.
Why Saunton Beach Villas Makes a Great Dog-Friendly Base
Located beside a truly dog-friendly beach and extensive walking routes, Saunton Beach Villas is an ideal choice for dog-friendly holidays in Devon. Our award-winning Villas are a short walk from sand, sea and dunes, meaning beach walks and outdoor adventures with your dog are always just moments away.
We know the importance of letting dogs be part of your holiday experience, so we have focused on facilities, location and services that make your break smooth, welcoming and full of memorable moments.
Practical and Stylish Dog-Friendly Accommodation
Our dog-friendly Villas offer stylish and comfortable self-catering accommodation for families, couples, friendship groups and their dogs. Each Villa is fully equipped for a comfortable beach holiday in Devon.
Here are some of the dog-friendly features we offer:
• Fully enclosed, fenced gardens for safe outdoor space
• Outdoor showers for rinsing sandy paws and kit
• Dog crates available on request
• Doggy Box welcome treat pack for canine guests
• No per-dog per-night charges – a single dog fee covers your stay
Recognised for Dog-Friendly Excellence
We are proud of our dog-friendly credentials and have been recognised in the Devon Tourism Awards Dog-Friendly Business of the Year category, winning Gold in the 2024/25 awards. In previous years, we have won both the silver and bronze awards. We continue to build on this success and strive to offer some of the best dog-friendly self-catering holidays in Devon and the South West.
More to Explore Around You
In addition to relaxing beach walks, Saunton Beach Villas places you close to dog-friendly outdoor experiences beyond the sand:
- Walks along the South West Coast Path, connecting your holiday base to some of the most scenic coastal routes in the region
- Miles of paths and trails through Braunton Burrows, part of a North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Click here to view the Braunton Burrows Dog Walker’s Guide
Click here to view the Braunton Burrows Guide and Map - Nearby dog-friendly pubs, cafes and places to explore in North Devon
Dog-Friendly Accommodation in North Devon
Located on-site at what is arguably one of North Devon’s most popular dog-friendly beaches, Saunton Beach Villas are proud to be THE destination for dog-friendly holidays. Our collection of award-winning 4, 6 and 8 berth self-catering Villas occupy an enviable spot just moments from Saunton Sands Beach and Braunton Burrows.
Whether you’ve met us as Crufts, have been referred to us by a friend, or have read about our dog-friendly awards, we’re sure that you’ve heard just how dog-friendly we are here at Saunton Beach Villas!
As dog owners ourselves, we understand what you are looking for in a dog-friendly holiday and have worked hard to ensure that we provide it. With no upper limit on the number of dogs you can bring, nor any unfair restrictions on breed or size, you can rest easy knowing that your whole family will be welcomed with a smile.
Practical and Stylish Dog-Friendly Accommodation in North Devon
Located beside a year-round dog-friendly beach, our award-winning dog-friendly Villas are a haven for dogs and their owners. Each Villa has its own fully enclosed fenced garden, allowing your dog to roam freely (and have a good sniff at the rabbits!). Our outdoor showers are ideal for washing off sandy paws and wellies after a good walk along the beach or through the dunes (they’re also great for washing wetsuits!).
Our beach Villas offer stylish and comfortable accommodation for families, couples, friendship groups, and their dogs. All Villas are fully equipped for a comfortable self-catering beach holiday in Devon.
Dog Friendly Added Touches
For the furniture, we provide blankets to protect the sofas and and soft furnishings. If your 4 legged friend is fond of a cuddle on the sofa, or if you think you’ll need more, please bring your own extra blankets to ensure that all furniture is protected. The Villas have hard flooring throughout which is sweepable and wipeable – no carpets here!
Dog crates with vet bedding are available upon request, saving you space in the car for everything else. Upon arrival, our canine guests are treated to a Doggy Box complete with a range of treats, including an exclusive Saunton Beach Villas dog tag to wear with pride! We do not charge per dog per night – a £40 dog fee covers all of your dogs for the duration of your stay.
Visit Devon Tourism Awards – Dog-Friendly Business of the Year 24/25
On November 21st, the 15th Devon Tourism Awards took place at Plymouth’s Crowne Plaza Hotel, celebrating excellence across Devon’s tourism and hospitality industries. With over 25 competitive award categories, we were honoured to be recognised alongside the county’s finest businesses. It was a privilege to attend the ceremony and celebrate alongside so many inspiring Devon businesses making a positive impact across the county.
We’re delighted to share that we came home with wins for both Saunton Beach Villas and our Braunton Accessible Bungalow:
🏅 Gold Award: Dog-Friendly Business of the Year – Saunton Beach Villas
🥉 Bronze Award: Accessible and Inclusive Tourism – Braunton Accessible Bungalow
We are truly grateful for these awards, which reflect our ongoing efforts to provide an inclusive, welcoming, & enjoyable holiday experience for all.
Visit Devon Tourism Awards – Dog-Friendly Business of the Year 22-23
In February 2023, we were delighted to receive a Bronze award in the ‘Dog-friendly Business of the Year” category at the finals of the Devon Tourism Awards, held at Home Park Stadium in Plymouth. We were honoured to also walk away with ‘Commended’ status in the “Self-Catering Accommodation” category. We are extremely proud to have won these accolades as recognition of our commitment to creating the very best dog-friendly self-catering holidays for our guests.
In 2021, we won a Silver Devon Tourism Award in the ‘Dog-friendly Business of the Year’ category and were also given ‘Commended’ status in the South West England Tourism Excellence Awards.
Saunton Beach Villas Dog Shop
Come and visit our Dog Shop in Reception to discover a unique and exciting hand-selected range of treats and accessories for your best friend. We’ve sourced a fantastic range of goodies using local supplies wherever possible.
Pick up a Doggy Doughnut or a special Saunton Beach Villas bone biscuits made by our friends at Lyn Valley Dog House in Lynton, or treat your dog to a beautiful beach-proof all-weather collar and lead set, handmade by Storeys and Tails in nearby in Bideford.
We also stock a range of tried and tested (by the office dogs!) treats from Kelso and Titch, including Doggy Popcorn, delicious sausages and crunchy biscuits! We’re also huge fans of their lovely paw and nose balms – perfect for giving your dogs a bit of TLC after long beach walks!
Dog Friendly Accommodation FAQs
All of our Villas are dog-friendly with no dog limit, however, we do recommend booking a larger Villa if you’re bringing 4 or more dogs. For example, if there are 4 humans and 5 dogs, you would probably be more comfortable in a 6 berth than a 4 berth. This isn’t a requirement of booking, we just like to make the suggestion so that you’re all comfortable!
We have dog groups, such as agility teams, who stay with us regularly as they can all stay together without worrying about dog limits. We often hear from families who haven’t been on holiday for years because they can’t find anywhere that will accommodate all of their dogs, we are pleased to be able to offer such groups a holiday together.
Yes! North Devon has a host of dog-friendly establishments – find out more by visiting Explore – Food and Drink. Dog-friendly venues are indicated with our dog-friendly badge.
Yes, each Villa has a fully enclosed garden – the fences are around 4ft high and ‘hit and miss’ style. If you’d like specific fence heights for a certain Villa please let us know. In the garden, you’ll find an outdoor shower, perfect for washing sandy paws and wellies after a long walk on the beach, or for cooling your dogs down on a hot day!
If you’ve got a dog who might benefit from a quieter spot on site, please get in touch and we’d be happy to advise on the most suitable Villa for you.
We do not forbid our guests from leaving their dogs in the Villa if they need to pop out. Of course, please exercise responsible dog ownership and do not leave your dog for lengths of time, or if the Villa is too hot. We also ask that you respect your neighbours and do not leave your dog if you know that it will be unduly noisy whilst you’re out.
Dogs are the responsibility of owners and any damage caused to the property will be charged for.
Reviews
This time we did the cliff top walk to croyde had a lovely lunch before starting our walk back. This was a great easy walk especially for our senior dog who is now nearly 12 and has arthritis but refuses to slow down. Looking to book our next visit
The people that work here are so helpful and kind, the villas have everything you need for a dog friendly stay. Love the outside shower for dogs, dog bowls, dog blankets, dog treats, dog ball and the clip for the dog collars which shows they are staying at saunton beach villas if they got lost.
You can stay on either the top level or the bottom level of villas, the bottom level is closer to the carpark and easier for bringing bags in but the top level you get amazing morning sunrises and views out onto the dunes.
Beds very comfortable, plenty of seating and strong hot showers. Only small improvement may be a heated towel rack to help us get towels dry in the bathroom - but this is minor!
This place offers an exceptional experience, providing relaxation and convenience for everyone. It's perfect for families, groups, and even pets. Our dog especially loves it here, thanks to his new complimentary ball. Highly recommended!
My only note would be to ignore the outdoor dog shower promise. It's a hose pipe in the garden and within a couple seconds of being used you're in a deep muddy and sandy puddle so it makes things worse!
Having stayed this time at Saunton Beach Villas, can’t recommend this highly enough! The villas are beautifully built and kitted out with everything you need for a relaxing stay with your furry best friends! Nothing has not been thought of to make this as relaxing as possible and enjoyable for both the doggies and their humans! Really is a stones throw to the beach and all amenities have been thought of, from the reception that holds items for doggies, including homemade cookies and cream, to the shop that has everything you need, for a beach day! Equally the restaurant is highly recommended and they have a click and collect for food… dinner sorted too! Highly recommend everything about this beautiful place. Thank you for making our stay soo relaxing and enjoyable.
We will def be back!
lots of space
easy surf. love it
It had everything we needed, the location was amazing and the ability to have the back door open onto an enclosed garden was perfect. We did lots of beach walks and the food at the Beach Grill was delicious. tip - get your tesco delivery to your door !
Location is brilliant, so close to the beach.
Truly lived up to all our expectations from friends that had recommended Saunton Sands Villas to us.
Our first stay here but will definitely be returning!!
Well equipped kitchen and able to cook breakfast for all of us each morning.
The lawn area needs some attention and nicer furniture to sit on in the sun etc.
£850 for 3 nights was on the high side I thought but the location was amazing as right in the beach and tucked into the dunes!
Straight out of the chalet onto miles of dunes and an endless beach.
Dunes 8 as always was spotlessly clean with the great addition of WiFi & smart tv's. Meant my husband could finish his work , our little girl could watch her favourite tea time programmes & mummy could sit outside with a glass of wine listening to the sea.
We were extremely lucky with the weather, lots of long walks on the beach & burrows - absolutely perfect . As always sad faces on leaving & an absolutely exhausted dog!
Already looking at dates for our next trip.
Thank you once again for an amazing long weekend .
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