St Vincent Guest House

Dogfriendly Magazine Review

Read our comprehensive review of this listing printed in our bi-monthly magazine.

Name: St Vincent Guest House, Lynton
Reviewer: Jo Southway

St Vincent Guest House is located in the heart of Lynton, a small town which is ideally placed on the coast of the Exmoor National Park. So whether you want sea views or open moors, or a combination of the two, you are spoilt for choice. On arrival, we had the most fabulous welcome. You instantly know they are dog lovers as our canine companions were greeted before the humans. 

We were shown where everything was and left to settle into our room.  Many of the rooms involve stairs so this is something to bear in mind for older dogs or those with mobility problems.  

After unpacking in our room, we thought we would have a potter around town with the dogs to give them a leg-stretch after the car journey.  This gave us a great opportunity to check out the local pet shop, something we always like to find on our dog trips and see what treats are on offer. After all it is their holiday too. The Lyn Valley Dog House even offered a selection of dog cakes including donuts, brownies and ice cream cones.

Lynton is 500ft above Lynmouth, connected via the Cliff Railway. When walking around the town there are some stunning views out to sea and the cliffs beyond. Being at the top of the hill, walking in Lynton always means going up or down and you should always be prepared for this and the blustery coastal weather. But there are lots of lovely shops and cafes, plenty of choice for lunch, dinner or a quick snack.

We decided to try out The Crown Inn for dinner as it is located just up the road from the guest house and there are no big hills to climb. There’s a traditional pub menu as well as a selection of pizzas, which is always a favourite of ours. Having our youngest member of the dog crew coming along to learn the ropes from our experienced boy, we spent a large chunk of our meal working on settling training while we ate.  The dogs were given lots of attention and made to feel welcome, even if the little dude could not contain himself every time anyone came near our table. The food was lovely and on a cold evening near the coast the log fire was a welcome addition.

Back at the guest house the dogs were suitably tired so they crashed-out. They are not allowed on the beds, which luckily ours are used to at home anyway, so happily spent the night on the dog beds we had brought. We were conscious of the crisp, white bedding and muddy dogs so definitely advise bringing extra dog blankets in case of bad weather.

Another place we tried in town was The Greenhouse, a beautiful café offering a menu of tasty meals and snacks. We just wanted a quick bite and chose a cheese scone with our hot drinks to warm us up on what was a chilly day. The staff were super friendly and made us all feel welcome.

With the stunning surroundings and four-legged family members most of our trip was centred around the outdoors and with endless options for walks. We ventured out onto the moors driving south east and found many lay-bys suitable for parking with footpath signs leading out onto the open moors. We chose one at random and went to explore following the signs. There were breath-taking views for miles and so much space for any length of adventure you want, but with lots of grazing animals its important dogs are kept under control.

Just ten minutes from the guest house is Watersmeet, a National Trust estate that includes ancient woodlands, a tearoom and river trails. A number of nearby footpaths, including the South West Coast Path, can be followed all the way back to Lynmouth. To get to the tea rooms you have to park up above and walk down to the riverside. This serves light lunches and snacks with both indoor and outdoor seating. Unless the weather is bad you will definitely want to be outside taking in the  surroundings with the river running past. It is truly magical place to stop, like something out of a fairy tale.

If you head in the opposite direction along the coast from the guest house, there’s the the Valley of Rocks, an incredible must-see natural wonder. Here you can take a walk (if you haven’t already walked from the guest house itself) or just enjoy the views with a picnic alongside the famous herd of feral goats. The area boasts some of England’s highest sea cliffs.

Our final walk was the Heddon Valley. We parked up in the National Trust car park near the Hunters Inn and made our way along the river through the woodland all the way down to where it meets the sea. The walk is incredibly picturesque with plenty of opportunity for some stunning photos. An easy-going walk with so much to take in that you can happily amble along slowly if you aren’t one for a hike or have a slower dog. We took some time at the sea to let the dogs play in the water and watch the waves roll in over the stones before heading back along the other side of the river to the Hunters Inn. 

On arrival we were really impressed with the building layout, which featured large windows overlooking the valley view. The food was fantastic but what really sold it for us was the staff. From the moment we arrived they were gushing over the dogs, dishing out cuddles and treats. Nothing  was too much trouble, including fetching water bowls, and after our adventure and all the  attention the dogs received, both slept soundly while we tucked into some lunch.

With lots of walking it was important we started the day well fuelled and the guest house provided this in abundance. Catering to various dietary requirements and with one of us being a meat eater and one vegetarian, we got to try a variety of their offerings. The portions were generous with unlimited amounts of extras so that even the hungriest of adventurer will head out fulfilled. Not only were the humans well fed but the dogs had their own sausages at breakfast which was a lovely touch and they definitely thought it was the best meal of the day.

With both a fantastic location for doggy adventures and the whole area in and around Lynton being so dog friendly, this is a fantastic option for any dog owner. Our two came home exhausted but satisfied.

St Vincent Guest House, Lynton, review by Jo Southway and appears in DogFriendly magazine issue 77.  For more information on the DogFriendly magazine visit 

https://www.dogfriendly.co.uk/magazine