Emma
02 March 2022
On the beautiful south coast of Devon, Brixham is a popular hot spot destination for tourists visiting all year around, but especially so during the summer months. These visitors aren’t just on two legs, some come on four paws and so we’ve highlighted some of our favourite dog-friendly spots in the town where our furry-friends are more than welcome to enjoy their holiday in Brixham too.
Places to eat
Brixham has loads of dog-friendly places to eat and drink in the town, here’s just a small selection of those available!
The Breakwater Bistro is an excellent dog friendly restaurant - great views, just by Shoalstone Beach. The mussels are locally caught and taste amazing.
Berryhead is a fabulous walk and has the award-winning Guard House Cafe at the top. It is dog friendly and does amazing breakfasts - they have doggy treats at the till too.
If you go further afield - Alf Frescos in Dartmouth serve dogs their own sausages when you go for breakfast.
The Berryhead Hotel is an absolute must for afternoon tea - in the summer there is often a brass band or stringed quartet playing on the sun terrace. Views there are across the bay and beyond and you very often spot the seals swim by.
Places to walk
You can’t escape the beautiful scenery on offer in Brixham, so taking in the scenery while going walkies means you can satisfy your need for awe-inspiring views, whilst also exercising the pooch! Plus, a little bit of fresh air and exercise never did anyone any harm. This small selection of beaches is dog-friendly all year around.
St Marys Bay
Down quite a few steps (this beach is not for those with mobility limitations) you will find the sandy, very peaceful beach. The bay has a large tidal range so make sure you head there when it’s low tide, especially during the quieter months as you’ll find you probably have it all to yourself! At certain times of year, you can also spot dolphins off the coast here too.
Elberry Cove
Crystal clear waters, a sheltered bay and shallow waters are the perfect combination for a doggy paddle. Here you’re very likely to see the resident Brixham seal, Sammy as he practically lives here.
Fishcombe Cove
Just around from Elberry Cove above, Fishcombe is more suited to a beach picnic, BBQ or snorkelling. It’s a bit busier here than at others in the area but has facilities on the beach so you don’t have to worry about carrying a drink for your four-legged friend when the weather is hot.
Things to do
One of our most favourite things to do in Brixham is take the seatrain round robin to Dartmouth and back again – better still, it’s pooch friendly so no one has to be left behind!
The seatrain departs from Brixham every day at 11:45am you can buy tickets from the kiosks on the harbour front and then hop on the Dart Venturer at the end of the jetty. Remember to pack sun screen as it is so easy to get burnt on the water. It is also a good idea to pack a warm coat as it can get a bit chilly even if it’s baking hot in the harbour.
The ferry takes about 40 minutes to get to Dartmouth. It goes around the Breakwater and then heads off down the coast towards Berryhead. The captain is full of interesting information and you get a fantastic view of the Jurassic Coast including Shoalstone Pool and Berryhead Hotel - great photo opportunities. Porpoises, seals and dolphins are a regular sighting, as well as cormorants, gulls and guillemots throughout the year.
Once past Berryhead the captain points out and names all the beaches and coves, starting with St Mary’s Beach, Mansands and Scabbacombe. Turning left into the River Dart you will dock at Dartmouth. Here you have a few hours to shop and browse delightful Dartmouth until catching the 3:15pm steam train to Paignton.
On the steam train the driver sounds the horn at every opportunity and you will enjoy hearing the unmistakeable whistling of the steam as you travel along the track and take in the views of Dartmouth, Greenway, Churston and finally Paignton. From here there is a short walk to the bus station to hop on the regular number 12 back to Brixham!
Hopefully we’ve convinced you that Brixham is as dog friendly as they come, so leaving your loyal friends at home is not an option. Take a look through our dog-friendly cottages in Brixham to choose your perfect base to explore the area.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.