What's the score?
Husbands, wives, girlfriends and boyfriends are all overrated. For a romantic break minus the squabbles, take a pooch to the Cary Arms near Torquay in Devon. The dog-friendly gastropub-come-boutique hotel is located at the foot of a gear-crunching hill which leads down to a sheltered cove on Babbacombe beach. The bay at the bottom is gorgeous, and can be admired from virtually every room and terrace in the hotel.
The beach huts
The latest additions are the six Cary Arms beach huts, which are perched on the hillside in prime sea view-appreciating position. The nautical-inspired interiors are combined with vibrant splashes of colour – on the sofas, the throws, the artwork – while the mezzanine level, where your bed’s located, comes with more views through a thoughtfully placed porthole window. Downstairs, there are floor-to-ceiling glass doors, while the deck outside your hut comes kitted out with two wooden sunchairs, perfect for appreciating the peaceful bay. It’s not just blue water either – the hotel’s shoreline is home to several friendly seals, who cruise along the coast and down to the dock, ready for you to snap some pics. Dogs are catered for, too, with a big dog bed, bowl and treats.
Food and Drink
Expect poshed-up pub grub. Breakfast could be a bacon sarnie or huge portion of eggs Benedict, while lunch makes the most of the local crab and crayfish. Evening meals consist of lemon sole, steak, or Devon beef and mushroom pie. And your dog won’t be forgotten either: during the stay, the chef whipped up a bowl of quinoa, steak and gravy for Welly the pug. If the weather’s good, you could be eating all your meals outside; there’s even a bell to ring if you see dolphins pass by.
Nearby
You’ll struggle to leave, but there are several walking routes along the coast.
Address: Babbacombe beach, TQ1 3LX; Price: Beach huts from £375pn B&B, doubles from £145pn; Getting there: First Great Western offers single fares to Newton Abbot from £19, book at gwr.com; More info, caryarms.co.uk
