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The Exmoor Forest Inn, a dog friendly inn in Simonsbath1 / 8

The Exmoor Forest Inn

Simonsbath, Somerset

Yes. Dogs can stay in most rooms.

An eleven room inn in Simonsbath, at the very heart of Exmoor, where one well behaved dog per table can join you in the restaurant.

Simonsbath is a remote village in a sheltered valley at the very heart of Exmoor, surrounded by imposing hills and unspoilt moorland, and The Exmoor Forest Inn has been serving it since 1789. This is a dog friendly inn made for walking: step out of the front door with your dog, follow the footpath about a mile downstream, and you reach the old tin mine of Wheal Eliza and then the Iron Age hill fort of Cow Castle.

Most of the eleven guest rooms take well behaved dogs, and the rooms have pocket-sprung beds, deep baths, big showers and somewhere comfortable to sit. The inn can give you details of self-guided walks that start there, so the dog's days are easy to plan. On numbers of dogs and leaving them alone in the room, the inn's site doesn't say, so check those when booking.

The restaurant takes one well behaved dog per table, which means dinner and your dog go together here. Food is the heart of the inn: the daily-changing menu leans on beef and lamb from its own organic hill farm, fish from the Bideford day boat fleet, and foraged finds such as wild garlic and sea purslane, with local cask ales on tap. It was included in the Good Food Guide's 100 best pubs for 2025.

The pub has a cosy sitting room with a fire, and there is nearly always one lit in the bar too. For a longer day out with the dog, the Doone Valley starts on the north side of the farm and makes a wonderful day's walk from the inn, and Lynmouth Beach, Wildpack's nearest dog friendly sand to Simonsbath, is 7 miles away.

Facts checked October 2026 from the hotel's own website. Details can change, so please confirm anything important, especially the dog rules, with the hotel before you book.

At a Glance: Dogs

Rooms for dogs
Most rooms
Dogs per room
The hotel doesn't say
Size or breed limits
The hotel doesn't say
Dog fee
There is a charge; the hotel doesn't say how much
Left alone in the room
The hotel doesn't say
In the bar
The hotel doesn't say
In the lounge
The hotel doesn't say
Eating with your dog
In the restaurant
In the grounds
The hotel doesn't say
Dog extras
The hotel doesn't say
Walks from the door
Yes
Nearest dog friendly beach
Lynmouth Beach, 7 miles

Where the hotel doesn't say, check with the hotel when you book.

Book your stay

The Exmoor Forest Inn is booked through Booking.com. Tell the hotel you are bringing your dog when you book.

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For You

Rooms
Suites
Things to do
Walking routes
Children
Children welcome
Awards
Michelin Green Star, Good Food Guide’s 100 best pubs for 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is The Exmoor Forest Inn dog friendly?

    Yes. Dogs can stay in most rooms. This comes from The Exmoor Forest Inn's own website. Details can change, so check with the hotel when you book.

  • How many dogs can I bring to The Exmoor Forest Inn?

    The hotel doesn't say how many dogs you can bring, so check with the hotel when you book.

  • Is there a charge for dogs at The Exmoor Forest Inn?

    There is a charge; the hotel doesn't say how much.

  • Can I eat with my dog at The Exmoor Forest Inn?

    You can eat with your dog in the restaurant.

  • Can I leave my dog in the room at The Exmoor Forest Inn?

    The hotel doesn't say whether dogs can be left alone in the room, so check with the hotel when you book.

  • Are there dog walks near The Exmoor Forest Inn?

    The hotel says there are walks straight from the door.

  • Is there a dog friendly beach near The Exmoor Forest Inn?

    The nearest dog friendly beach on Wildpack is Lynmouth Beach, 7 miles away. Check its page for any seasonal dog restrictions before you go.

The Exmoor Forest Inn, Simonsbath, Minehead, TA24 7SH

51.1397, -3.7548

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What’s Nearby?

Watersmeet to Ash BridgeWalk6.6 mi away

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Dog Friendly Rating:8/10

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Lynmouth BeachBeach7 mi away

Lynmouth Beach

Devon

Dog Friendly Rating:7/10

A shingle beach at the foot of Exmoor in the dramatic village of Lynmouth, year-round dog friendly and directly below the famous Victorian Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway with pubs and shops just steps away.

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Dunkery Beacon from Dunkery GateWalk7 mi away

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Dog Friendly Rating:8/10

The highest point on Exmoor with expansive views and high off-lead potential on the open moorland; no facilities and limited parking so come prepared.

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Lynton, Lynmouth and Watersmeet CircularWalk7.2 mi away

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Dog Friendly Rating:7/10

A spectacular Exmoor river valley walk with dramatic gorge scenery and excellent National Trust facilities; the steep terrain and livestock require care throughout.

View Listing11.3 km · 3 hr 30 min · Moderate
Valley of Rocks Coastal LoopWalk7.8 mi away

Valley of Rocks Coastal Loop

Devon

Dog Friendly Rating:7/10

Spectacular rock formations and feral goats on a dramatic coastal loop; moderate off-lead potential but sheep and cliff edges require attention.

View Listing4.8 km · 1 hr 30 min · Moderate

Dog Friendly Hotels Nearby

The closest dog friendly hotels to The Exmoor Forest Inn. Every dog fact comes from the hotel's own website.

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All dog friendly hotels in Somerset