Sun Penny cottage

Here at Driftwood Cottages we LOVE dogs. Our cottages are designed with dogs in mind with hard floors downstairs, spare bowls and stair gates, doggy throws and direct access to a secure garden area through the back door. We want your pooches to feel as at home as you do, so you can relax safe in the knowledge that we've covered all bases.

Sun Penny Cottage has plenty of dog friendly walks right on the doorstep with the beautiful Lee Bay beach a short 10 minute stroll. Walk past a trickling stream, through a lush green meadow and meander down a country lane to the stunning sandy beach. Dog friendly all year round it's the perfect spot to exercise your canine companion. We accept two dogs at each property, but please do get in touch if you have more as we may be able to accommodate depending on the breed.

HERE IS A REVIEW FROM ISSUE 58 OF THE DOGFRIENDLY MAGAZINE BY RHIAN WHITE
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"Sun Penny is a cosy and beautifully decorated cottage located in Lee Bay, Devon. Often referred to 'Fuchsia Valley', it’s nestled in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the north Devon coast. It has four bedrooms (three of which have king size beds and fourth has a single which pulls out to a double) and two bathrooms, a cosy Aga log burner, Sky TV and WiFi, it’s a short walk to the beach, has a driveway with parking for two cars and an enclosed garden complete with the sound of an adjacent stream.
The decor is bright, modern, clean and extremely well designed and thought through. They have really thought of everything to make your stay as comfortable as possible, not just with the furniture and decor but there are plenty of games and books and also a welcome hamper of treats. 
We stayed in the winter so we didn’t make much use of the garden but in the summer it will really come in to its own. The relaxing sound of the stream that comes right past the garden was really lovely. The garden itself is enclosed and safe for all concerned.
Nearby attractions
The best of the nearby attractions are of course north Devon’s wonderful sandy beaches and the coast path. Travelling with dogs it’s useful to be aware of the restrictions on local beaches from May, but during the winter months all restrictions are lifted and the beaches are much quieter. We stayed in January and were very lucky with the weather - it was sunny (yet windy!) and we had wonderful walks on the nearby Lee Bay (need to wait for low tide), Woolacombe and Saunton Sands. Lee Bay is dog friendly all year round, from May Woolacombe is partially restricted and Saunton (the biggest of the lot) is dog friendly all year round.
South West Coast Path - England’s longest footpath and a National Trail, that can be walked directly from Sun Penny Cottage. It stretches for 630 miles, running from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset. This meandering footpath has some incredible sea views, and is very steep in places. To begin the walk head down to Lee Bay beach, where you can either walk left towards Morthoe & Woolacombe, or right to Ilfracombe. Both options are equally impressive - hiking footwear is a must! If you choose the Woolacombe direction there are a couple of great pubs in Morthoe to stop for refreshments, along with a deli and a fish & chip shop. 
Depending on your taste and sense of intrepidness you can of course get involved in other activities, such as surfing, kayaking and coasting, clay pigeon shooting, golf and horse riding. There is also a spa, cinema, theatre and a sculpture garden all within easy reach if these take your fancy. Generally I tend to stick to activities the dogs can do but the area accommodates a multitude of tastes.

Price details
Low Season (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec) £150.00 per night. 20% Discount for 7+ days booked. 
Mid Season (Apr, May, Jun, Sept, Oct) £185.00 per night (Easter £200/night). 10% Discount for 7+ days booked.
High Season (Jul, Aug) £250 per night.

There are no charges for dogs and I am told if you mention Pugs (you don’t need to have one!) when booking £10 of the booking fee per night gets donated to various Pug charities. The cottage owner has rescue Pugs from the PDWRA (Pug Dog Rescue Association and Muffin Pug rescue) - you’ll see various Pug themes items dotted around the cottage.



Dog friendly.
The cottage was really dog friendly. We bought our own beds, but they had provided a nice new blanket for us which the girls loved. There was also a doggy welcome hamper which was really welcome and it included dog treats, the soft dog blanket and poop bags! But the contents can does vary. There were also dog bowls, throws and stair gates and a small high K9 bed is available - I found this really useful for the girls who love to stare at me while eating so they had somewhere to be comfortable in the dining area! I even found a Pug-sized life jacket!
From the point of view of slippery floors it was pretty good and, upon request, they kindly placed extra mats down for Boo as she has arthritis and struggles if the floors are too slippery. The extra mats were great and she had no problems. The garden is very secure and a good size. Not quite big enough for a greyhound to go for a sprint but a good size for dogs to have a play. I can imagine it will be a really lovely space to relax in the sunshine in the spring and summer.
The nearby Lee Bay beach was about a 10-minute walk so if you don’t want to always be in the car this is a good alternative, but it’s only sandy at low tide and is not quite as spectacular as Woolacome, Croyde or Saunton, but visually it’s really nice and there is plenty for dogs to explore when the tide is low. I’d recommend getting a tides book so you can plan your day according to the tide times.

Holiday experience
Well firstly the cottage was a delight to stay in. It was warm, clean and comfortable and felt luxurious and a treat to be there. They have thought of everything to make your stay comfortable, for you and your dog. I had no qualms about the garden being insecure and the girls enjoyed a good sniff around. It was very welcome that the local beach was so close as my elderly girl, Boo, can no longer go on really long walks, so we enjoyed a few strolls down to Lee Bay and then a few trips out and about to the larger beaches like Woolacombe and Saunton. We had some nice food at The Grampus (one minute from the cottage) with the girls and other places to visit for food would be Brundles Restaurant - Woolacombe (10 min drive - dogs allowed in the bar), The Kings Arms - Georgeham (20 min drive) and The Porthole, Marine Drive - Woolacombe (10 min drive) which is a café to relax in after a bracing walk at the beach.
I’d love to go back to Sun Penny Cottage and I’d have no hesitation in recommending staying here to other people with dogs as they will be very comfortable and will have a great time. The area is packed with amazing dog friendly beaches, the beautiful coastal path, lots of other activities and plenty of places to eat out. With Ilfracombe just a few minutes drive away you will also easily be able to source your own groceries to make your own meals. I’d say it was one of the loveliest holiday cottages I have been to and would highly recommend a visit."