The Dartmouth Hotel, Golf & Spa

There are holidays where you spend all day rushing around to see everything, and then there are holidays where the whole point is to slow down. The Dartmouth Hotel, Golf & Spa firmly belongs in the second camp.

Spread across 225 acres of rolling South Devon countryside, just four miles from the historic harbour town of Dartmouth, this spacious country resort gives you plenty of room to breathe. You can spend the morning wandering through the grounds with your dog, the afternoon relaxing beside the pool or enjoying a round of golf, then head into Dartmouth for dinner by the River Dart.

For dog owners, the big attraction is the combination of countryside space and comfortable accommodation. The hotel has a number of designated dog-friendly rooms, while selected self-catering cottages can also welcome dogs. Canine guests staying in the dog-friendly hotel rooms receive their own bed, food bowl and water bowl, so there’s no need to fill the car with half the contents of the dog cupboard.

There’s a dedicated dog trail around the grounds, although dogs need to remain on a lead for their own safety. The golf course is strictly off limits to dogs, but that’s no great hardship when there are plenty of other places nearby to explore. The hotel’s countryside setting makes a good starting point for walks, while the South Devon coast, River Dart and surrounding villages provide plenty of options for longer adventures. While there aren’t coastal paths or beaches within walking distance due to the hotel’s rural location, a short drive will take you to some of the area’s beautiful beaches and walking routes. The main road serving the hotel is a busy A road, so for safety, we don’t recommend walking along it. This makes the hotel a great base for exploring the wider area by car before heading out on foot with your dog.

The accommodation gives you a choice between the convenience of a hotel stay and the freedom of having your own cottage. The self-catering cottages sleep up to six people across three en-suite bedrooms and come with fully equipped kitchens, generous living spaces and private terraces. Selected cottages are dog friendly, making them particularly useful for families who want more space.

Then there’s the spa. After a day exploring South Devon, you can swap walking boots for a swim, sauna, steam room or Jacuzzi, or book yourself a treatment and properly switch off. The Dartmouth Spa also has a gym, relaxation areas and a range of overnight spa breaks, so there’s plenty here for anyone whose idea of a holiday involves being thoroughly pampered.

Golfers are particularly well catered for, with 27 holes across two courses. The 18-hole Championship Course makes the most of the undulating countryside, while the nine-hole Dartmouth Course provides a shorter, more relaxed round suitable for a wider range of abilities. You don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy the setting, though; the courses are simply part of the huge rural landscape surrounding the hotel.

And when you’re ready to explore beyond the resort, Dartmouth is close enough for an easy day out. Wander the harbour, take a boat along the Dart, discover the South Devon coast or head for one of the area’s beaches. Sugary Cove is particularly worth knowing about if you’re bringing a dog, while Blackpool Sands offers a beautiful stretch of coastline nearby.

Back at the hotel, the Bar & Bistro serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with menus featuring regional produce and locally sourced fish and vegetables. There’s also a Sunday carvery and plenty of space to relax with a drink after a day outdoors.