A trio of salty sea dogs are welcomed at this elegant Victorian villa, which sits close to the South West Coast Path and Appledore’s characterful quayside. After waggy-tailed walks unwind in a choice of companionable spaces inside and out. A wood burner, flexible bedroom layouts and estuary views ensure this is a real pack-pleaser.
Featuring period details and tasteful furnishings, the sitting room of this three-storey villa has a paw-warming wood burner, TV and selection of board games that set the scene for down-time. Close-by, the kitchen houses all the self-catering must-haves and opens onto a drool-inducing sun deck. When you’re ready to retire, settle the pups in their beds then ascend to the first floor, where three blissful bedrooms are served by a spacious family bathroom. Two of the bedrooms have flexible zip-and-link beds, allowing them to be set up as super-king or twin rooms, while the third is a double with views towards Instow. A second staircase leads to the top floor, where the master suite has a king-size bed, small seating area, dressing space, en-suite bathroom and tea-making facilities. The enclosed garden presents a choice of social spaces plus a shed stocked with games, beach gear, wetsuits and boogie boards. Children and pets can play on the lawn while you fire up the BBQ in preparation for patio dining. Afterwards, stretch out on the sun deck’s sofa-style furniture.
Unload, park in one of the public spaces nearby, then savour village life – vibrant Appledore has a fine choice of inns, eateries and shops, plus cobbled streets and a promenade that’s perfect for walkies. Take the ferry to Instow and the dogs can dash around the sand dunes, or drive 3 miles to Westward Ho! where the long, sandy beach is backed by the Northam Burrows Country Park. The South West Coast Path offers longer walks around the Taw-Torridge estuary, or you could sniff out the Tarka Trail – one of the country’s longest traffic-free paths – from Bideford, 3.5 miles upriver.