Aloft is most definitely a dog friendly shop. We are a team of serious dog lovers.
Beth & Margie
Margie is Beth’s gorgeous black lab. She loves to steal the limelight at our photo shoots and sneaks her way in to as many shots as she can. She is definitely not camera shy. Like most of the Aloft girls, she is a water baby so its no surprise that her favourite walks involve a swim.
One of their favourite stretches of the South West Coast Path is the stretch from Torcross to Beesands. If it is low tide then you can walk between the two villages along the shingle beach and Margie can play in the waves the whole way. If the tide is in then it's a more strenuous route following the coast path as it climbs to a point that offers sensational views of Slapton Sands and Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve before continuing south around Beesands Quarry and then descending to the northern end of Beesands beach. Either way a well deserved pint at the idyllic Cricket Inn beckons. Four legged friends are made welcome with water bowls and doggy treats at the bar. If they are feeling hungry then it’s the Britannia the home of fantastically fresh local seafood – affectionately known as ‘The Shack’, where well behaved dogs are welcome.
There is water fun to be had away from the beach too and the circular loop through Loddiswell woods along the disused Primrose Railway Line runs alongside the river Avon. There are shallows and pools to play in with kingfishers dipping along the banks. There is plenty of parking at Avon Mill Garden Centre and their cafe is perfect for a coffee and cake at the end of the walk. The whole garden is dog friendly and there are dog treats behind the till.
Kerri, Gizmo & Lucy
Kerri's first born is a characterful little pug cross chihuahua mix called Gizmo. Gizmo will be 9 years old in February and is the boss in the household. Her other dog is a 2 ½ year old staffie called Lucy who has endless energy but is kept in line by the boss Gizmo.
One of this gangs favourites is Holywell Bay to Perranporth. When the tide is out there is an expanse of golden sand on both beaches perfect to let the doggies run wild and free. There are caves to explore and one even hides the beautiful Holy Well which is where this place gets his name. It can only be accessed at low tide so be sure to check tide times before you visit to ensure you don’t get cut off. The walk also takes you past the old MOD camp which is quite interesting to see and there are often lovely little ponies grazing on the clifftops.
Another is starting at Porthgwarra. One way will take you along the coast towards Lands End and if you go in the other direction it will take you to the beautiful Minnack Theathre and Porthcurno beach.
There is a lovely little café at Porthgwarra serving homemade food perfect for grabbing a bite before or after your walk along this breath-taking coastline.
For a lovely woodland they love to visit Cardinham Woods whatever the weather. There are lots of different paths you can take here depending on whether you are after a gentle stroll or more of a challenge. A gentle stream runs through the middle of the woods and there are a few places with easy access for the doggies (and their humans) to paddle. A huge bonus to this walk is that they have the cutest café in the woods here that serves the yummiest food and the doggies of course are never forgotten as they always have a jar of biscuits on their counter for them.
Stacey & Ajax
Ajax in Stacey’s handsome golden lab. He is sometimes down at our Salcombe store charming our customers. He loves long walks and swimming in streams. The Avon Valley is one of his favourites too but Stacey takes him further upstream to Gara Bridge where there is a lovely circular walk.
Here in Devon we are lucky to have the beautiful coastline but Dartmoor is also on. Our doorstep. The Believer Forest has a range of trails through forest and moorland along the banks of the East Dart River. This is one of Ajax’s favourites places to explore. The Fox Tor Cafe in Princetown is a great place to drop in afterwards. They keep two wood burners going and welcome dogs, muddy paws and all.
Max & Ebba
Max is a big dog lover but doesn’t have one of her own. She has 4 dogs who regularly come and stay with her when their owners go on holiday. Ebba is a favourite. She is a labradoodle princess who doesn’t even have her own bed as she prefers to sleep with the humans. She’s a proper dog when it comes to adventures and she loves walking the cliffs to find secret swimming spots. The Schoolhouse just up from Mothecombe is a great dog friendly place to warm up after a swim. The relaxed vibes with vintage sofas by the brazier outside and plenty of outdoor seating makes its relaxing place to hang out with furry friends.
At Aloft we have carried the brilliant Dock & Bay towels for some time now. Their brilliant quick dry, sand free towels are perfect for days at the beach, holidays and wild swims. Now they have added a dog towel in to their range. Available in medium or large depending on the size of your pooch, they have two corner pockets to pop your hands in and give them a good rub down. We are all so excited to have these to take on our pup adventures.
See our range of towels, available in 2 sizes online HERE
If your in Salcombe or Padstow our team will always help with advice on any good local dog friendly walks and cafes.
The Aloft Team and their Dogs.
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