Arlington Court / Carriage Museum

Arlington Court near Ilfracombe is a full-blown dog daydream: big estate walks, interesting smells, and enough squirrels to power a month of dramatic sighing. The Carriage Museum is a fun extra, especially if your dog enjoys trotting alongside you while you admire wheels, leather, and polished history. Dogs are welcome inside the Carriage Museum and the indoor seating area next to the tea-room, so nobody needs to do the pavement-waiting shuffle.

You get grand house-and-garden atmosphere, woodland rambles, and heaps of "what's that smell?" moments. It's a brilliant "tire the dog out politely" outing with open space, scenic paths, and that National Trust calm that makes everyone behave. Mostly. The estate is open daily from mid-February to late October, then weekends through winter.

Expect a day that feels wholesome in the best way, with plenty of chances for photos, sniffs, and a well-earned flop in the car on the way home. Dogs aren't allowed in the main house or the Old Kitchen Tea-room itself, but the estate grounds, Carriage Museum and indoor seating area offer plenty of dog-friendly exploring.