Fido Family Friendly Places

The Orangery is the perfect holiday retreat in the port town of Bideford with its pastel coloured houses and tree lined quay. With plenty of activities and attractions for both families and adults just a short drive away. Just a few to mention include the Big Sheep Family attraction, the Milky Way Adventure park, Tapely Park Gardens and Rosemoor Gardens. You are just a few minutes walk to the town centre with many shops, bars, restaurants and the Pannier Market. Bideford also boasts a lovely large park with a good size adventure playground for children, park café and outdoor paddling pool, free to use in the summer months. North Devon is the ideal location for those bringing their dogs on holiday with them with many of the local beaches being dog friendly, as are several pubs. This charming wing of the owner’s grand Victorian home sits at the end of a sweeping drive in a quiet edge of town location and has been refurbished to a very good standard providing quality and two bedroom accommodation with the added bonus of a private hot tub. Shops, pubs and restaurants ¼ mile.

Set near the breathtakingly beautiful North Devon Coast running on ground and air source renewable energy, this friendly, family run complex is peacefully located within 10 acres of grounds with outstanding views over the glorious Devon countryside. Moorhead Country Holidays is the perfect holiday choice for family, friends, and couples at any time of year. The complex comprises of 16 properties, 10 apartments for families accommodating between 3 and 6 people set together in the grounds, 6 apartments for couples (and older children) set in a barn conversion attached to the main complex. The complex has fantastic on-site facilities including a heated indoor swimming pool (open all year), and hot tub area, a well-equipped gym, Wi-Fi (in the communal areas), games room and separate snooker room.

Located on a 1½-acre, well-stocked coarse fishing lake, with carp weighing up to 25lb, in stunning surroundings, there is also a Just for Fun 9-hole pitch and putt (weather dependant), and full size Boulee court. In the evening there is a delightful fully licensed bar and restaurant to enjoy and give a relaxing end to the day (open between Easter - October, 6:30pm and 8:15pm (Closed February half term and Sundays) reservations for the restaurant to be made before 5pm each day). Guests staying over the New Year week can enjoy a complimentary party with a buffet and music to welcome in the New Year. There is plenty to keep everyone entertained whatever the weather.
Only 4 miles from the coast, this stunning location is perfect to explore the dramatic North Cornwall and North Devon coastline. There is the Hartland Peninsula, the pretty town of Bideford with a good range of facilities, and a trip to Lundy Island can be organised from the quayside. Westward Ho! and the popular Cornish resort of Bude have fantastic beaches, renowned for excellent surfing, whilst Bude’s vibrant town centre has a vast array of good restaurants and bars. Both walkers and cyclists will enjoy the nearby Tarka Trail and Moorhead Country Holidays is the perfect touring base to explore the delights of both North Devon and North Cornwall. Coastal walks, and for family fun, The Big Sheep and The Milky Way Adventure Parks are a must. Garden lovers will enjoy RHS Rosemoor, Docton Mill and Tapeley Park, and there are many pretty fishing villages nearby including Clovelly, Instow and Appledore. Tennis, horse riding, mountain boarding, paintballing and quad biking are all on offer locally and for a great day out, why not visit the famous Eden Project. Village shop 1 mile.

High Park House is the perfect venue for a large family holiday or group reunions/getaways. Built in 1845 High Park House features on the ground floor two living rooms with cosy wood burners and smart TVs, a formal dining room, a large kitchen/diner perfect for creating holiday feasts. There’s also a utility room, a handy separate toilet and a boot room. And for some family fun there’s a games room with a pool table. Up on the first floor are seven bedrooms with five en-suites, to comfortably sleep sixteen guests. Within the grounds is an indoor swimming pool and hot tub which can be booked for exclusive use and a large natural lake with a decked terrace, to the front of the house is a large private lawn area and ample parking.
High Park House offers easy access to beaches, moors, golf courses, children friendly fun parks, and many other recreational activities. Bideford is the second largest town in North Devon with plenty to see and do including a lovely river front and port. The Southwest Coastal Path is a must for keen walkers and runners, as is the popular Tarka Trail, which stretches for c.180 miles and can be accessed locally. Swimming, surfing, canoeing and entertainment for all the family plus fishing are all close by. For a day with a difference why not take a trip across to Lundy Island? With regular trips from Bideford, measuring just 3 miles by ¾ mile, this entire island has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Westward Ho!, the nearest seaside village offers an array of seaside amenities including some fascinating curiosity shops, restaurants and cafes. Within easy reach are two popular top attractions, The Big Sheep amusement farm park and The Ultimate Adventure Centre! Being very close to the A39 Atlantic Highway, the property is conveniently located for day trips to other beautiful places such as Exmoor National Park with stunning dark skies for great star gazing and locations such as Clovelly, Hartland and North Cornwall. Beach 4 miles.

The perfect choice for a family holiday or a relaxing break with friends, this delightful, 18th-century, barn conversion is Grade II listed and sits within the pretty hamlet of Ford just a couple of miles from Bideford and the glorious North Devon coast. There is a large garden with fencing, enabling dogs to be able to play freely. With two living areas and a galleried snug, there is plenty of space for all generations to relax and unwind in. There are many lovely coastal villages to explore including nearby Bucks Mills, Peppercombe, Clovelly with its donkey transport, and Hartland. The delightful port town of Bideford has a good selection of town amenities, restaurants and a weekly market. Boat trips are available to Lundy Island from various departure points including Ilfracombe and Clovelly. The historic fishing port and village of Appledore is worth a visit. Garden lovers will enjoy nearby RHS Rosemoor and Docton Mill. This is a superb holiday choice whatever the time of year. The beach at Westward Ho! is just 4 miles; renowned for its beauty, it has 2 miles of sandy beach known as the Golden Bay, and is popular with surfers. Coastal and country walking, golf, surfing, fishing, horse riding, cycling are all on offer close by, and for family fun, The Big Sheep and Milky Way adventure parks are not to be missed. Shop, pub and restaurant 1½miles.

Set amid 10½-acre grounds, complete with outdoor heated swimming pool, games room with pool table and darts, mini-gym and children’s play area, these six holiday properties (26767, 26768, 27123, UKC284, UKC285 and UKC1844) occupy a beautiful setting. Named after British apples, they have been imaginatively converted from former fruit barns. On arrival, dive into the welcome pack.
All the properties at Horselake have a private garden or courtyard, whilst enjoying the freedom to roam the grounds and make the most of the shared facilities. Ideal for exploring South Devon with its stunning coastline, and resorts such as Dawlish and Teignmouth. Rugged Dartmoor is only a short drive, and many family attractions are within easy reach including National Trust-owned Castle Drogo, Fingle Bridge, the Teign Gorge, and Canonteign Falls and Country Park. The properties are within 10 miles of the old cathedral city of Exeter, with its many varied attractions including a racecourse, shopping, antique shops, guided tours and a host of summer festivals. Fishing on the River Teign, 3 miles. Golf 4 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant within 1 mile.

Nestled within 240 acres of unspoilt farmland, in the glorious South Hams midway between Dartmoor and the stunning south Devon beaches, Wheeldon Farm Cottages are the perfect choice for family, friends and couples to enjoy a relaxing retreat or an action packed escape at any time of year. The four delightful, pet-friendly barn conversions (refs 27214, 27215, 27216 and UKC748), which could be booked together for larger parties, sit within a lovely courtyard setting surrounded by miles of footpaths and green lanes, ideal for walking or cycling. The master bedroom in each property features a flatscreen TV, and home-made meals can be pre-ordered and delivered to the cottage (arranged direct with the owner). The cottages lie just a short distance from some of south Devon’s finest beaches and tourist attractions, including the historic town of Totnes which is just 15 minutes away and sits on the River Dart with cruises down river to Greenway and Dartmouth. A cosmopolitan town, Totnes, 7 miles away, has a vast array of independent shops, weekly markets, galleries, leisure centre and many lovely restaurants, bistros and cafés. The seaside towns of Paignton and Torquay are 40 minutes’ drive, and it is just a 15-minute drive to the yachting haven of Dartmouth, and the coastline between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge, both 7 miles away, has many stunning beaches, hidden coves and fantastic coastal walks.

Guests of these cottages can also enjoy a range of on-site facilities suitable for all the family, including a heated indoor swimming pool (available via a booking system) with a private changing room and shower. There is a large games room set over two floors, including a fitness room with a cross trainer, treadmill, rowing machine and exercise bike. The top floor of the games room has a full-size American pool table, big sofa and Sky TV. The bottom floor has table tennis and table football. On-site there is also a laundry and ironing room. If you are looking for adventure and an adrenalin rush, then Wheeldon Farm Cottages will not disappoint. The Wheeldon Off-Road Centre, adjacent to the cottages, boasts a purpose-built, 30,000 square foot indoor arena (split in separate halves for motorbikes and bicycles) and junior training circuit, and is the ideal year-round venue for the whole family to learn to ride a motorcycle in a fun and controlled environment. Discounted rates are available for children and adults during the school holidays (booking by arrangement and on arrival), providing children and adults with the opportunity to experience the ultimate, two-wheel off-road adventure for the first time. The instructors at Wheeldon Farm are all ACU accredited and will guide the children through their paces every step of the way. For some activities, all the kit, clothing, boots, gloves, helmets and fun bikes are provided. All that’s needed is the enthusiasm to have a great deal of fun! Suited to all ages from 7 years to fit seniors. Wheeldon Farm now offers all of it’s holiday cottage customers a free 1 hour ‘taster’ ride on our professionally maintained Haibike electric bikes, after which they are available to hire. The bikes are perfect for exploring the beautiful South Devon countryside in an environmentally friendly way. We can advise you on the best routes to ride and places to explore.

In addition to all the motorbike fun, a range of other activities can also be organised locally, including horse riding, golf, go-karting and trout and carp fishing. Also, clay pigeon shooting, air rifle and archery are available - these are run by a fully qualified instructor and all equipment is provided. The activities run on a Monday, Thursday and Sunday. Prices will be charged accordingly when bookings are made. Please note, extra activities and catering requests must be pre-booked with Wheeldon Farm Cottages prior to guests’ arrival at the site. Foxglove (ref 27214), Poppy (ref 27215), Monkshood (ref 27216) and Mad Nelly Cottage (ref UKC748) can be booked together to accommodate up to 29 guests. Beach 10 miles. Shop 3 miles, pub 2 miles and restaurant 6 miles.

These two lovely properties are situated in the village of Cranford, just a short drive from the secluded, dog friendly, sand and shingle beach in the tiny cliff top hamlet of Bucks Mills, one of the most beautiful villages in North Devon. This secluded, hidden gem, with pretty white washed cottages speckled along a wooded valley at the end of a no-through road, makes the perfect location for a holiday all year round. The owner lives nearby and is on hand should you need advice or assistance during your stay.

The Old Coach House (ref UK11507) is a detached barn conversion with a cosy open plan living space on the first floor and two lovely bedrooms on the ground floor. This upside-down design makes a great base for couples and families looking to escape to Devon’s picturesque countryside. A fully enclosed garden can be found beside the property and is ideal for an al fresco supper. Both properties also have use of a 2-acre field just across the lane, ideal for summertime picnics and walks with your four-legged friends.

Cranford House (ref UK110938) has a large, living/dining/sun room, which is really the heart of this wonderful property. Sit back and relax in front of the cosy wood burner, or gather in the evening for a pre-dinner glass of something chilled as you recount your stories of the days adventure. The large kitchen will surely be a hit with the family chef, so you can rustle up something tasty and sit down to an evening meal surrounded by your loved ones. The games room houses a pool table, which will be sure to keep everyone entertained with a little family friendly competition.

There is something for everyone in this stunning location with birdwatching, fishing, horse riding, golf, surfing and sailing close by. The nearby coastal path leads you to the popular fishing village of Clovelly and the unspoilt beach at Peppercombe, or if you are feeling energetic you can walk all the way to Westward Ho!. A village store and post office are just 1 mile away for your daily essentials and the popular village inn at Woolsery and adjacent fish and chip shop make for a perfect evening out or in. Nearby Bideford has restaurants and town amenities along with boat trips to Lundy Island, or why not hire a bike and explore the Tarka Trail? RHS Rosemoor Gardens, Docton Mill and Hartland Quay are well worth a visit, along with many pretty fishing villages to explore including nearby Instow and Appledore. For family fun, the North Devon Wake Park, Ultimate Adventure, Big Sheep and Milky Way Adventure parks are a must. Beach 10 miles. Shop 1 mile, pub and restaurant 1¼ miles.
These properties can be booked together to accommodate up to 16 guests.

The Old School House is a superb property situated in Horrabridge, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.
It’s an extremely spacious 5000 square foot, late-Victorian former schoolhouse, built in 1875 of local stone and slate. This beautiful seven-bedroom holiday home comfortably accommodates up to twenty two guests and presents a wonderful base for a group of family and friends to enjoy a luxurious and relaxing break. The property showcases two hot tubs, six bathrooms, bath tubs lavishly positioned in two of the bedrooms, a games room, large garden, and a children’s play area. The main part of the building on the ground floor has a magnificent large kitchen and dining area with seating for up to twenty guests, an island worktop, exquisite quartz countertops and plenty of appliances. Other features include a pantry, boot room, cloakroom, the enormous living room with two large seating areas and a wood burner, patio doors opening out into the garden and a games room with a pool table and dartboard.
The annexed area at the far end can be accessed through a connecting hallway or via a separate entrance and it contains an additional open plan kitchen, living and dining area, a shower room and a staircase leading to the two bedrooms above. This beautiful, detached home has three staircases in total leading to the first floor which divides two bedrooms at the far end for eight guests, the extraordinary master ensuite bedroom in the middle for a couple and the other three bedrooms at the other end accommodating up to twelve guests. The final en-suite double bedroom is located on the ground floor. The private enclosed garden has a large lawn, a sprawling decked area, barbeque, outdoor seating, children’s play area, plus a large shed for all outdoor activity equipment. In front of the property is a large parking area with space for up to eight vehicles plus a covered carport.
Horrabridge is a beautiful village with a village green and medieval bridge on the banks of the River Walkham. It is serviced by a selection of shops including a post office and stores, bakery, fish and chip shop, art gallery and two pubs. Tavistock, a nearby thriving market town rich in history and tradition dating back to the 10th century, just 3½ miles away to the northwest.

Four Seasons Cottage is a beautiful cottage with a gorgeous, comfortable interior. There’s a living room with a wood burner and Smart TV, and the kitchen/diner is the hub of the cottage with all you’ll need for your holiday. Indulge in the cinema room with a 55” cinema-style Smart TV. Outside there is plenty to do from lounging on the patio and pebbled garden to having a soak in the hot tub! Between April and October, the outdoor above-ground pool (non-heated) will be available to use. Shared facilities include a sports/games lawn and access to 7.5 acres of land including free coarse fishing on the private lake. The owner will accept up to three/four horses on request, subject to availability. There are several resident horses on site, and you can arrange a grooming session at no cost during your stay, supervised by the owner and subject to availability. You are also welcome to collect eggs from the free-range chickens, proving great fun for everyone.
The property is a great base for exploring both North Devon and North Cornwall, boasting some of the best beaches in the country many of which are dog friendly and around 20-minute drive away. The famous Tarka trail walk is in easy reach just a few minutes’ drive away from the cottage, Along the way you will find many dog-friendly pubs and restaurants. Regularly used by walkers, runners and cyclists. There are many family attractions a short drive away including mini theme parks, farm parks, adventure centres for those adrenaline seekers, gardens, museums and stately homes. Just over 5 miles from Torrington or Great Torrington, a town built on the site of an ancient settlement at the top of a cliff with the river Torridge below. The town benefits from some great views and a regular pannier market. 18 miles from the capital town of Barnstaple with its Queens Theatre, cinema, leisure centre, tennis centre and indoor trampoline centre.
North Devon offers fantastic attractions such as Exmoor National Park with its ‘Dark Sky Reserve’. Explore coastal towns and villages such as Lynton and Lynmouth, Ilfracombe and Clovelly village all boasting breathtaking scenery. You’re spoilt for choice for beaches with Saunton, Woolacombe, Croyde and Westward Ho! all within easy reach by car. The Southwest Coastal Path runs through the rugged coastline offering stunning walks, and the Tarka Trail can be accessed locally, providing opportunities to follow a disused railway line and will take you through places like Fremington Quay and Yarde, Instow with its estuary beach and view towards the fishing village of Appledore through to Bideford, Barnstaple and beyond. And don’t forget Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks, both within easy reach by car.