“From rare birds and butterflies, Neolithic monuments and ancient woodland, to tradition, folklore and farming on horseback, Dartmoor has it all. Leading the way for the arts, all things organic, a haven for literary greats and explorers, you will be walking in some awesome footsteps.”
visitdartmoor.co.uk
Our trip
My partner and I hate New Years Eve. New Years Eve used to be a massive celebration and a great night out. Now, it is just an overpriced disappointment. Especially when you have a dog as many are afraid of fireworks and need looking after. So, a few years ago we decided to celebrate New Years Eve in Dartmoor.
You may not think of the infamously gloomy moor as the best place to spend New Years Eve, but we loved it. We took the pooch out for some food and then a dog-friendly pub to see the new year in. The out of the way dog-friendly village pubs are quieter and friendlier than venues in towns. Sash, our pooch, enjoyed herself but not all dogs will. You could instead spend the evening celebrating the new year on your own in your accommodation watching the stars and unspoiled scenery. Either way, I strongly recommend it!
Dartmoor National Park is 368 sq. miles (the size of London although smaller than the Brecon Beacons in Wales) and is best known internationally as the setting for Sherlock Holmes book The Hound of the Baskervilles. Many people associate it with the infamous Dartmoor prison. In fact, on the way home we actually visited the Dartmoor prison museum with Sash. She found it very confusing and her reaction to the wax models was hilarious. We still aren’t sure if the museum is dog-friendly or if the staff took pity on us (it was pouring with rain outside), but if you get a chance to take your dog!
Before you visit the National Park with your dog please read the official guidance. There are lots of wild animals and livestock on the park that you will be responsible for avoiding. There is a Livestock Protection Society that respond to calls about uncontrolled dogs. You have been warned.
Things to do and places to see in Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of spectacular beauty. You could walk the National Park for days. See this page for a number of different walks (including maps) that you can do. You can do numerous things with your dog in the National Park including:
- River Dart Country Park (woodlands)
- South Devon Railway (including a Polar Express train ride)
- Castle Drogo
- Dartmoor Prison Museum
Dog-friendly accommodation in Dartmoor
We stayed in a great studio property on the edge of the National Park. Unfortunately, this property is no longer available on booking.com.
You can find lots of dog-friendly accommodation on the usual sites such as TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Canine Cottages.
Other useful sources
Dartmoor is very popular, here are some of the sites I found useful when planning our trip:
- The official National Park site: https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/
- Visit Dartmoor site: https://www.visitdartmoor.co.uk/
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That is hysterical that Sash got to tour a prison museum. Did she think the wax people were real?
She was really confused by it! I would love to see a show reel of the different dog reactions!
Hilarious 😂
I’ve always loved the Dartmoor ponies. It never occurred to me that this area would be so dog-friendly. That’s so amazing. Sash looks so…I’m not sure if it’s proud or if she’s posing. Either way, I love that photo of the two of you.