Dog Days AwayGOOD DAYS. TOGETHER.
Devon · England · Town · Coast
Torquay offers a harbour break with beach choices that depend on exactly which patch of shore you use. Babbacombe permits dogs year-round, while Meadfoot divides into different dog-access zones. Both hotels here need a planned dog stay: Imperial uses designated garden-level rooms, and Headland has specific dining and supervision rules. Choose one beach outing and leave time to enjoy the town.
Policies researched 27 September 2026 · Check directly before booking
A BASE FOR YOUR BREAK
Dog access can depend on the room or accommodation you choose. Confirm the exact dog arrangements before you pay.
Imperial is on Park Hill Road and allocates dog guests to garden-level rooms. Headland is on Daddyhole Road, not Babbacombe Downs Road as the original research suggested. Headland publishes a lower nightly dog fee but excludes dogs from its principal restaurant and bar; confirm a designated meal space.
Park Hill Road · Torquay
A Park Hill Road hotel with designated garden-level dog rooms. Call to arrange the correct room rather than assuming every sea-view category accepts pets.
The dog detailsThe operator lists £20 per dog per night and provides a bed and bowl. Confirm the room, number or size limits, meal access and unattended-dog rules directly.
Book directly with the property
Arrange the dog room and confirm the total charge directly before paying.
Daddyhole Road · Torquay
A Daddyhole Road hotel above the Torquay coast. Confirm the dog room and the designated meal space when reserving.
The dog detailsUp to two dogs, £15 per dog per night. Dogs must be on leads in public areas and cannot be left unattended in rooms. Romanoff Restaurant and Gallery Bar exclude dogs; staff can arrange meals in other designated locations.
Book directly with the property
Arrange the dog room and confirm the total charge directly before paying.
GOOD DAYS OUT, TOGETHER
Make a separate outing to Babbacombe for a change from Torquay harbour. The council lists year-round dog access, but conditions and the journey down to the beach still need consideration.
Keep your dog controlled, check tides and follow current signs. Year-round access does not guarantee safe swimming or an easy route down.
Official visitor informationChoose the north-eastern part of Meadfoot, which the council lists for year-round dog access. Read the notices carefully before settling on a stretch of shore.
The south-western section excludes dogs 1 May-30 September. Follow the marked boundary and local lead requirements.
Official visitor informationAN UNHURRIED COUPLE OF DAYS
Check into your allocated dog room and take a short harbour outing suited to the journey and the climb back. At Headland, ask where the dog-permitted meal tables are before dinner. Keep the evening simple rather than relying on leaving your dog alone.
Choose Babbacombe or the permitted north-eastern part of Meadfoot using current signs, tide and weather information. Keep the outing short if the access slope or uneven shore is demanding. Return for a rest rather than adding a second beach merely to complete a list.
A suggested plan, not a booked itinerary. Adapt it to your dog, the weather and current access.
THE DETAILS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Its 2026 policy prohibits leaving dogs unattended; older advice suggesting otherwise should not guide the booking.
Torre Abbey Sands and several other Torbay beaches exclude dogs from May through September. Meadfoot itself has two different zones.
Torbay Council lists Babbacombe Beach all year, but Meadfoot is split: the north-eastern section stays open to dogs while the south-western part is excluded from 1 May to 30 September. Other named beaches, including Torre Abbey Sands and Oddicombe, have summer restrictions. Keep dogs on leads on promenades beside restricted beaches and follow the foreshore notices at Meadfoot.
Sources: Torbay Council - Dogs on beaches
Dogs are allowed at Babbacombe all year, but getting down is steep: Torbay Council describes a very steep winding road from street parking, followed by steps or a slipway from the promenade. The beach is about 300 metres from on-street parking. Plan the return climb before setting out and choose another outing if that approach does not suit your dog.
Sources: Torbay Council - Babbacombe Beach
The Imperial says dog guests must be booked into designated garden-level rooms, arranged by calling the hotel. Its published charge is £20 per dog per night and includes a dog bed and water bowl. Do not assume a room category or sea view is dog-eligible; ask the hotel to confirm the exact room and total charge before paying.
Sources: The Imperial Torquay - Hotel Information: Can I bring my dog?
The Headland’s August 2026 dog policy excludes dogs from the Romanoff Restaurant and Gallery Bar. It says there are a couple of other meal locations for guests with dogs, but does not name them; ask hotel staff to confirm the space for your meal before booking. Dogs must be on leads in public areas.
No. The Headland’s August 2026 policy says dogs must not be left unattended in guest rooms. It also asks guests to display the dog door hanger throughout the stay. Plan meals and outings around keeping your dog with you, and confirm any individual arrangement directly with the hotel.
Torbay Council schedules weekday daytime closures on the western promenade beside chalets 1-30 from 28 September while sea-defence work proceeds; it expects about ten weeks, subject to weather and tides, and says weekend access will be restored. The works notice describes access by the slipway and two sets of steps, but the beach page currently says the slipway is closed. Check live signs and use an open step route if the slipway remains shut.
Sources: Torbay Council - Essential sea defence repairs planned at Meadfoot Beach · Torbay Council - Meadfoot Beach
Researched from accommodation operators, property listings and visitor information linked above on 27 September 2026. Prices and policies can change; a stated dog fee is not a room quote or a promise of availability. We have not personally inspected these places. Our day plans are editorial suggestions.
Read our research approach