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4/5 Paws
Slow down to Hope Cove’s pace of living and wake up to the sound of the breaking waves; having recently been cited as one of the ‘Coolest postcodes to Move to’, the picturesque coastal village is the ideal destination for a beachside escape with your four-legged friend in tow.
The pretty boutique Hope Cove House – opened in 2019 by Oli and Ra Barker – sits at the centre, just a few steps away from the beautiful sandy beach of Inner Hope. The gorgeous dog friendly abode has an open-house vibe and seamlessly blends their background in restaurants (the couple opened Six Portland Road in 2016).
There are ten welcoming bedrooms with a simple style, soft hues and expansive coastal views – think unfussy with crisp Egyptian cotton bed linen, fresh flowers from the garden, vintage mirrors, colourful artworks and Roberts radios. Bathrooms boast large fluffy towels and luxury Australian brand, Aesop products. Three of the bedrooms welcome dogs, where you will find a water bowl and doggie treats on arrival. It’s the perfect bolthole to hunker down, and enjoy wide window seats and open plan living downstairs with dreamiest coastal views across the beach to Bolt Tail. Dogs are welcome throughout the house, but are politely asked to be mindful of other guests.
You can expect a super-friendly and relaxed stay here – Hope Cove House is all about understated luxury, a place to unwind to a backdrop of blues, eat delicious food, sip a negroni in your flipflops, listen to vinyl and breathe in that salt-fresh air with your fur-friend at your feet. There’s also a superb collection of books to enjoy reading out on the terrace in the sunshine or by the fire during winter months. Above all, it’s an unpretentious, relaxed and easy home-from-home – a classy place to hunker down with delicious menus brimming with locally sourced produce – perfect for after a day on the beach with your canine
pals and the ideal base to explore the South Hams – Salcombe, Bantham, Thurlestone, Bigbury for surfing, Dartmouth, Totnes, Ashburton for its superb array of antiques and cafes.
Situated just above the beach, at Inner Hope on the South West Coast Path, between Thurlestone and Salcombe, Hope Cove House is truly a peaceful spot that is hard to beat, with minutes taking you to some of the most stunning walks in the area. Once a fishing village, Hope Cove is full of character with views that overlook the original lifeboat station.
Take a blustery clifftop walk, followed by a picnic on the sands, or perhaps take to the water for a wild swim or try kayaking, sailing and SUP. It’s a brilliantly diverse area explore with surf schools in Bantham, kite surfing at South Milton, swimming, fishing, crabbing and boat hire out of Salcombe.
We particularly enjoy the walk along the South West Coast Path, from Hope Cove to Thurlestone – a relatively easy two-and-a-half mile trek – stopping for a bite to eat at The Beach House, located on South Milton Sands beach – an unassuming beach shack, serving simple seafood, and good coffee, welcoming four-legged friends for doggie dining inside and out.
September through to April, the area is largely unrestricted for dogs on the beaches and the South West Coast Path stretches in both directions from the front door, with some lovely bridle paths inland to explore too. Please note that the National Trust ask you to be mindful of sheep and cattle along some of the paths, these are all well signposted.
Dogs are welcome to join you at the in-house restaurant for both Breakfast and dinner, a real draw when holidaying with your canine pal.
It’s a gorgeous light-filed space to enjoy an evening, with spectacular views and delicious ingredient-led menus that change regularly depending on the daily catch, as well as the season’s bounty – ensuring everything is kept super local and fresh. Think tasty plates full of locally sourced, seasonal produce and seafood launched in nearby harbour towns – local fish, crab, lobster and homemade pasta, along with a host of Italian suppliers, bringing a little flavour of the Med to your stay.
The wine list is equally enticing, showcasing small producers, specialising in natural wines across Italy and France, alongside some local gins and ales and a few
classic cocktails. For those who prefer to dine out, we can highly recommend The Crab Shed at Salcombe, The Bull in Totnes, Journeys End at Kingsbridge and Millbrook Inn, a beautiful old pub located at South Pool.
There is a charge of £20 per stay – one dog per room.
Hope Cove House has topped my list of Devon destinations, not only was I fussed over on arrival, I was also spoilt with treats and able to join my humans in all areas of the house, including my favourite part – dinner! It’s every dog’s dream to be so close to the beaches, and just a stick’s throw from the coastal path too. I couldn’t get enough of the blustery clifftop paths, salty splashes in the sea and seaweed sniffs. Lovely to meet resident cockerpoo Marty as well, the pawfect host.
4/5 Paws
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