Dog Friendly Westward Ho!: Where to Eat Indoors

Short answer: The beach gives acres of space for a dog walk, particularly out of season. The Pier House takes dogs in the bar, and the Guillemot Bar, Nomad Larder and the Boathouse at Instow all welcome dogs. The Big Sheep does not.

The beach

Two miles of flat sand backed by an enormous pebble ridge, with acres of space for a winter dog walk. Summer rules can differ, so read the signage on arrival.

Beach dog rules in Devon change with the season — many ban dogs from May to September and lift the ban from October. Read the signs on arrival rather than assuming, because they vary beach by beach.

Eating indoors with a dog

• The Pier House — big and glass-fronted above the bay, dogs in the bar.
• The Guillemot Bar at Latitude 51 — spacious, with beach views and enormous portions.
• Nomad Larder at the Pig on the Hill — walkable from the beach, dogs in the bar and outside. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
• The Boathouse at Instow — ten minutes round, facing the estuary.

Northam Burrows

Across the estuary — a huge open beach behind a pebble ridge with a visitor centre, café and clean toilets. Dogs on leads. Parts of the car park flood at high tide, so read the signs.

The Tarka Trail

Joined via Bideford or Instow — flat, paved and traffic-free.

What does not take dogs

The Big Sheep, five minutes inland, does not admit dogs. The Milky Way, further out, does not either.

Practical

Parking is a flat £8 for the day. On a hot day, do not leave the dog in the car while you eat — the car parks here have almost no shade.