Trengayor Farm

Dogfriendly Magazine Review

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

Name: Trengayor Farm, Dizzard
Reviewer: Jo Southway

When you go for a break away, many people head for the coast because there is something peaceful and satisfying about being at the beach and finding somewhere to stay with a sea view is the icing on the cake. Within walking distance of the waves, Trengayor may be a mile from the beach however you can see the sea from the upstairs windows and even from the luxurious bath as you soak away your stress. 

Trengayor is situated near Bude with easy access not far off the A39, but far enough you feel like you are away from it all. For shopping and essentials, you will need to drive, though.  Pulling up to the holiday home it looks smaller on the outside but walking in was somewhat of a Tardis. A fantastic layout of rooms perfect for any dog owner with easy clean hard floors for those muddy walks and a choice of entrance doors. The kitchen is the main feature of downstairs, combining both a kitchen diner, an island to sit at, a beautiful wood burner and a seating area. You will probably find that you spend most of your time here. 

On a summer’s day you can have the door open straight out to the garden seating area combining inside and out. Upstairs the bedrooms are incredibly spacious with beautiful views in all directions. We even had the pleasure of opening up one of the large landing windows on a clear night and doing some stargazing, making the most of the minimal light pollution.  The main bathroom is quite a feature of the house with a free-standing roll top bath with a sea view. With its huge windows you can gaze at the coast. 

From the front door there are various opportunities for walking. The closest beach is Millook Haven which can be done as a circular route. Quite steep in places and likely harder going for us due to the awful weather we had, I imagine it’s much easier when the ground is dry underfoot. But we are used to walking in all conditions and this did not put us off. A mixture of wooded areas and open fields following the river through the valley, the walk was a real adventure. 

The beach itself isn’t the easiest to traverse being rocky and uneven. Due to this and the steep climb back to Trengayor we opted for a phone call back to the house to get a lift. For more of a challenge you can walk to Crackington Haven, although we opted to drive. Note dogs are not allowed on this beach during the summer. With parking, a beach shop and a choice of cafes there is more going on here than at Millook which in turn meant more people.  We decided to try out the Cabin Cafe for hot drinks and snacks to warm us up on a blustery day. 

For those who like to discover what the nearest town has on offer when they are away, the nearest is Bude. It is a good-sized town with plenty of shops and restaurants. You can get everything from your supermarket shop to coastal souvenirs. We are massive pizza lovers and so decided to sample what was on offer at La Bocca pizza kitchen. We were not disappointed. Although dogs are not allowed inside you can get takeaway, sit outside or order from the pub next door, the Carriers Inn.  After a wander around the town we walked to Summerleaze and Crooklets beach which are attached to one another. There is plenty of parking on the edge of town for either beach. While Crooklets does not allow dogs in summer you can take dogs to Summerleaze as long as they are on lead. Summerleaze also has a great added bonus of a sea pool.  Dog friendly beaches that are a short drive from Bude and have no restrictions year round include Sandymouth, Northcott Mouth and Black Rock beaches (Widemouth Bay).

Further afield there are a ton of spectacular attractions to appeal to all. We went for a walk at Tintagel Castle where you can pay to visit what is left of the castle itself or walk around the area taking in the coastal path for free. There is a small beach known as Tintagel Haven or Castle Cove which gets cut off when the tide comes in. At low tide you can make your way down the steps and check out Merlin’s Cave or admire the waterfall. The views in this area are breathtaking. But with such a landscape comes many steps, steep slopes, uneven and slippery surfaces and big drops. 

On the way back into town we were grateful to pass the Pengenna Pasties shop where we bought some tasty snacks and cakes to refuel. We travelled a little further round the coast stopping off at a few parking spots, where you are never disappointed with the views as it really is the most beautiful coastline. 

While driving with no set destination we happened upon The Port William at Trebarwith Strand. Looking out over the sea it’s one of the most idyllically located pubs I have ever visited. Whether it is a cold day and you want to sit by the log fire in the warm or a warm summer’s day, you can sit above it all in the outdoor seating area and the pub is perfect. When at the coast I love to make the effort to find some quieter, less populated beaches, such as Lundy Bay where you can walk shorter or longer routes along the stunning coastal paths including circular routes which can include the Pentyr cafe. 

On the way back we called into the Sea View Farm Shop and Cafe for a quick drink. All I can say is: what a view! Another great find and even quieter was the Strangles beach. 

It is dog friendly all year round, and quiet, even in the summer. The negatives – the climb down is so steep that there are ropes for part of the descent. We did manage to get down to the beach with the dogs but it was not a walk for the faint-hearted. But once on the beach, we had the entire place to ourselves and the dogs were in paradise. It was wonderful to be able to let them all off the lead, something which we usually only do in secure fields and see the joy on their faces jumping about in the waves. Even after making it back up, out of breath and with aching legs, it was very much worth it and would definitely visit again. Trengayor is a perfect location for making the most of the coastline. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and wished we had longer…

Trengayor Farm, Dizzard 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