RAVEL Devon? It’s the dog’s! HOLIDAY HOME HEAVENLY FOR FOUR-LEG PALS
FLUFFY bedding and bowls of treats awaited our labrador, Tehya, when we rolled up at our dog-friendly holiday home in south Devon.
And it wasn’t too shabby for Tehya’s twolegged friends either, having been luxuriously refurbished just a couple of years ago
There are arresting panoramic views from the window on the open-plan first floor, looking out on to an expanse of water, appropriately named the Millpond.
Calm is the watchword here as the birds and wildlife provide a sideshow above and around the water.
The road to the house, named Dominoes, in the village of Stoke Gabriel, is barely troubled by traffic because it comes to a dead end a couple of hundred yards past the property.
Underfloor heating and a wood burner kept any chills at bay, and the house faces south to soak up the best of the sunshine.
There are three generous double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, and a large and secure garden to keep your pets, not to mention children, safely enclosed.
There’s a tap in the patio area and a doggy bath complete with shampoo and towels. And for the eco-minded, there’s even a fastcharging socket for electric cars. Stoke Gabriel is fairly remote, accessible only via the kind of ancient single track roads the south west is famous for.
But it does have a couple of pubs, restaurants and shops – a good collection for a compact and pretty enclave clinging to the side of a hill, beside a dammed creek which flows into the River Dart.
During the summer the river is busy with boats from the sailing clubs dotted along the banks.
A paddle steamer runs from Totnes to Dartmouth and canoe expeditions
(dogs welcome) launch from the quayside.
During our wet, windy and wintry weekend, the waterways were quieter – a lot quieter.
Set on the edge of the dam, looking out into the Dart, is the River Shack, a sweet spot during the day for a relaxed coffee or cream tea – obviously, this is Devon.
At night it offers a full restaurant menu with a tantalising local focus: Dawlish mushrooms,
Brixham hake and Dartmoor venison, to name a few.
The village church, founded in 1268, epitomises the depth of history in the area and it’s also home to a 1,000-year-old yew tree whose spidery branches weave between the gravestones like medieval tentacles. Beyond the parish, the pretty town of Totnes is full of independent shops.
The butchers, bakers and cafes could tempt the most devout dieter and there are plenty of craft and gift shops, too.
Larger towns such as Paignton, Brixham and Torquay are no more than a 20-minute drive away, while the wild beauty of Dartmoor National Park is around half an hour away. Despite the damp weather, there was plenty to venture out for. Besides, dogs need walking.
With well-marked coastal and countryside paths through well-tended and waymarked hills, Tehya was in labrador heaven. Only five miles from Dominoes is Greenway, Agatha
Christie’s home from 1938 where she plotted her murder mysteries in the idyllic grounds overlooking the Dart estuary.
She would discuss the intricate details with guests, surrounded by her family’s collections of books and china, which are still on display.
The National Trust runs the estate now, preserving its character and allowing dogs to enjoy the surrounding woods, farmland and Greenway’s award-winning garden but, unsurprisingly, not the historic house itself.
While the inspiration for Christie’s quintessentially English settings is obvious in every thatched cottage, manor house, lush lawn and sweeping parkland vista, where the criminal intent and violence comes from is more of a mystery.
We ponder this conundrum over a splendid roast at the Ferry Boat Inn, a short ferry ride away (£2pp, dogs 50p).
Dittisham’s quayside watering hole has a deserved reputation in the area, based on making a great job of Sunday roast lunch with the bonus of stunning views of the river from its bay window – for dogs and humans alike.
Holiday lets may have been slow to tap into the appetite for pet-friendly staycations, but they have seen the light now and dog owners are lapping it up.