Away from everyday

Now that London is filling up, more people travelling abroad and with the weather changing, there was a better chance that we could get a room at some of the coastal places we’ve been meaning to go to.

After a couple of months in the city, we always have the urge to wander far away from everything. And Gara Rock in coastal Devon seem to meet the brief.

Perched on a clifftop surrounded by countryside, sea views,

Maybe a sheep or two

and nothing else … it was just me and Mum for a getaway.

We wanted to be near water, see open skies, walk the beach and have some quiet time. At Gara Rock, it was all that though we never made it down to the beach. Mum saw the trail and thought it was too long and steep down the cliff … so we had a look and didn’t venture further. LOL!

We went for short walks instead.

And watched the day come to an end …

The hotel has a laid back vibe, very relaxed and calm.

They have a little kiosk that stocked dog biscuits! Now this is defo a sign of a dog-friendly hotel.

In the lobby we spotted a cockapoo!!! That’s Enzo and he lives in Somerset.

We were allowed to dine in the restaurant.

Our room was a garden suite which is where the dog-friendly rooms are allocated.

There weren’t any dog bed set-up but that was completely fine by me as I sleep on the bed anyway. In a way, that seems to say how relaxed they are about us doggies being there.

I think they know that most of us would sleep on the human bed anyway! LOL! But I also found the low pouf was as good as any dog bed. It’s like a raised dog bed!

The next day, as expected, it rained. Mum was actually happy about it – she wanted to be in the element. But I wasn’t so sure.

It was good break from every day – rain or sun, it was a place to go to, away from it all.

The journey from London Paddington to Totnes was less than three hours, and then another 40 minute drive to the coast. I slept most of the way there and back.

Wonder where we’ll go to next, when Mum has one of these urges.

May’s comment: At Gara Rock, we’re a world away from the everyday. It’s easy-going and down to earth.  Dogs are welcomed everywhere. The garden suites are the dog friendly rooms – which makes it very convenient.

We had a fabulous warm sunny day and a rainy, stormy next day. And I enjoyed both. It was easier to take walks in beautiful weather but there’s something quite calming and melancholic about sitting in a room, looking out at the garden and listening to the rain.

We came to Gara Rock to get away from it all …

And the rain provided another shield.

At night the skies were so clear and because we were far away from everyone else we could clearly see the stars. It was so clear, I even managed to capture this photo with my iPhone!

The next question – Where’s George?

George was scheduled to come with us but when a neighbour asked to have him as she had recently lost her dog, I did stop to think. The weather forecast was rain also made me think – one wet dog is more manageable than two. As it turned out, it was for the better. The trains out on a Friday are usually more crowded than usual. And as I found out, the trail down to the beach was quite steep with loose stones and as we walked past grazing sheep and their poo deposits, dogs must be kept on leads – for more reasons than one. George would be eating and rolling in the poo and he would bark at them and scare the sheep who were dangerously close to the cliff edge! George is a love bug at home but he is still a feisty little monkey in tantalising situations.