Pet-friendly rentals
in Ashburton

What it is like to live in Ashburton

Ashburton is a small historic market town on the southern edge of Dartmoor National Park. The centre has a medieval street layout, traditional buildings and a compact group of shops, cafés, pubs and everyday services. It is a place where you can do some errands on foot rather than relying on a large out-of-town shopping area.

The town’s main shopping area is centred on the Bull Ring and continues along North Street, East Street, West Street, Kingsbridge Lane and St Lawrence Lane. The mix is notably independent, with antiques shops, galleries, speciality food and drink businesses, cafés and other hospitality venues. There is also a Saturday farmers’ market tradition.

That compact layout can work well if you like being able to walk into town with a pet. Ashburton is not completely flat, however. Some streets and routes around the settlement are steep, so the precise position of a property matters. If you have an older dog, a nervous dog or a cat that needs a quiet indoor routine, look closely at the street rather than judging the town from a map.

Ashburton is close to Dartmoor’s open landscapes, but the best moorland walks may involve a short journey beyond the built-up area. A property that looks close to the National Park is not necessarily beside a suitable everyday dog-walking route.

Areas and streets to compare

The town centre and Bull Ring are the obvious starting points if you want shops, cafés and the central bus reference point nearby. North Street, East Street and West Street contain much of the central activity, while Kingsbridge Lane and St Lawrence Lane are also part of the main shopping area. Older buildings may have character, but check the practical details: parking, stairs, storage, outdoor space and the route to suitable green space.

Chuley Road is a distinct area to consider. It is associated with railway heritage and has been identified for mixed-use redevelopment. The planning context includes traffic movement, parking and local housing need, so renters should ask precise questions about access and what is included with a property. If works or changes are relevant to a home you are viewing, establish how they could affect your tenancy before signing.

The Dolbeare Meadow and Eastern Road area differs from the historic centre and includes a newer Co-op Food store. Longstone Cross is another named development area. Housing stock and road layouts in these places may differ from those around the Bull Ring, so compare the actual route to shops, bus stops and walking areas rather than relying on an area label.

Other useful search terms include Buckfastleigh Road, Rock Park, Old Totnes Road, Woodland Road and Western Road. Treat these as starting points for property searches, not as interchangeable neighbourhoods. In Ashburton, a few streets can make a noticeable difference to slope, traffic, parking and access to open space.

Shopping and everyday essentials

Ashburton’s centre is better suited to people who enjoy independent businesses than to renters looking for a large national-chain shopping environment. Around the Bull Ring and the main central streets, you will find cafés, food businesses, speciality retailers, antiques shops and galleries. The town also has a Saturday farmers’ market tradition.

For convenience shopping, there is a Co-op Food on North Street. A second Co-op Food is on Eastern Road in the Dolbeare Meadow area. The Eastern Road store has fresh food, a bakery, food-to-go, everyday essentials, customer parking and parcel-locker facilities.

The research confirms smaller Co-op stores rather than a large-format supermarket in Ashburton itself. If you want a wider supermarket choice, compare access to nearby towns before deciding where to rent. This may matter if you do a large weekly shop, rely on deliveries or do not drive. Check the route from each property rather than assuming that all parts of the town are equally convenient.

Watts in Store at 12 East Street is identified as a local pet shop. Check its current opening hours and stock before relying on it for a particular item. Ashburton also has two veterinary practices identified in professional listings. Dart Vale Veterinary Group is at 19 West Street, Ashburton, TQ13 7DT. Griffiths Veterinary Centre is at Grace House, Lornhaven Business Park, Ashburton, TQ13 7FF. Both are listed for treating pets including dogs and cats. Check directly for current appointments, opening arrangements and out-of-hours details.

Getting around Ashburton

Ashburton’s main central bus reference point is the Bull Ring. Stagecoach service 38 serves the town and links it with places including Exeter, Chudleigh, Bovey Tracey, Buckfastleigh, South Brent and Ivybridge. Timetables can change, so check the current service before choosing a property around a particular bus journey or stop.

Ashburton does not have a current National Rail station. Newton Abbot is the nearest established mainline station relevant to Ashburton-area renters. The station has rail, bus, taxi, parking and cycle facilities, but you will need to plan the onward journey from Ashburton rather than assuming the station is in town.

Ashburton is close to the A38, an important strategic road in this part of Devon. Road access can make countryside trips, shopping outside town and rail connections more practical, but the useful journey will depend on your destination and traffic. Before signing a tenancy, test the actual route to work, school, the station or regular pet appointments.

Walking a dog and living near Dartmoor

Dartmoor is the main countryside resource near Ashburton. The National Park provides public access on foot to substantial areas of common land, but access is not the same everywhere. Land type, signs, local restrictions, livestock and seasonal conditions can affect how a route may be used.

Do not assume that a dog can run off lead simply because you are on open land. Check current Dartmoor guidance and signs at the start of a walk, and keep your dog under control around livestock and other walkers. Churchyards, sports grounds, children’s play areas and other open spaces should not automatically be treated as dog exercise areas either.

Ashburton Information Centre on Kingsbridge Lane provides walking guides, maps and local information. Dartmoor’s published walking routes include options around nearby settlements such as Buckfastleigh. The Wray Valley Trail is promoted as a walking and cycling route on a former railway line, but it is not an Ashburton town-centre route.

When viewing a rental, walk the route you would use every day. Look for pavements, crossings, lighting, steep sections and places where a dog can be managed safely. For rural-edge homes, inspect boundaries, gates, nearby footpaths, livestock access and winter conditions. A secure garden is useful, but confirm that the fencing is intact and that the tenancy permits pets and use of any shared outdoor space.

What to check before renting with a pet

Start with the features that are difficult to change after moving in. Decide whether you need a garden, dedicated parking, ground-floor access, room for a crate or storage for muddy coats, walking equipment and pet supplies. If you have more than one pet, a large dog or an indoor cat, explain this clearly when you enquire.

Ask for the precise pet terms before arranging a viewing. “Pets considered” can mean different things, so check the number and type of animals allowed, whether the garden is private, how boundaries are maintained and whether there are restrictions on shared entrances or communal outdoor areas. In flats and older buildings, ask about stairs, noise, flooring and access to the front door.

Check the property’s parking arrangement rather than assuming that a town-centre home has a dedicated space. Confirm mobile signal, broadband availability, refuse arrangements and whether external storage is large enough for bikes, muddy walking equipment or pet supplies. For properties near Chuley Road, Dolbeare Meadow or Longstone Cross, compare the construction date, road layout and parking with what you would expect around the historic centre.

For rural-edge properties, check boundaries, livestock access, local footpaths, road lighting and winter conditions. These details can affect both a dog’s daily routine and your own journey home. Make sure permission for the pet is recorded in the tenancy paperwork rather than relying on a conversation.

Set a Paw Keys alert for Ashburton

If Ashburton is your preferred location, a Paw Keys alert lets you save your search preferences and receive notifications when matching homes are added. Set the details that matter most, such as the number of bedrooms, garden, parking and permission for your particular pet.

It can also be useful to create separate alerts for nearby places if you are open to comparing towns. Buckfastleigh, Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey, Chudleigh, South Brent and Totnes each offer a different combination of transport, services and countryside access. Keep the searches separate so you can compare them properly rather than treating every nearby town as equivalent to Ashburton.

Keep your rental information ready so you can respond clearly to a suitable property. A short introduction covering your pet’s age, size, temperament, training and references can help a landlord or agent understand your circumstances. Be honest about the animal you are bringing and ask questions about gardens, parking, shared spaces and local walking routes before committing to a viewing.

For Ashburton landlords and agents

If you have a property where pets are welcome, make the terms clear. State the type and number of pets considered, whether there is secure outdoor space, and any important details about parking, shared areas or flooring. Clear information helps responsible owners apply for homes that suit them.

Including accurate pet information in a Paw Keys listing can help renters assess a property before they enquire. It also gives landlords and agents a more useful starting point for conversations about the tenancy and the animal.