A Pawfect Guide to Dog Friendly Holiday Cottages

Published: Friday 6th Jun 2014

Written by: Alice de Courcy-Wheeler

Choosing dog friendly holiday cottages can often be a difficult choice. Do you go for somewhere exciting that your dog will love to explore and compromise on the quality of the cottage? Or do you make sure the accommodation is ideal and gamble on the destination? Well, with our guide to dog friendly holiday cottages, this isn’t a choice you have to make. We’ve picked ten great cottages in places that will definitely get your dog’s tail wagging.

Deep in the Cornish countryside is Greenmount, a luxurious three bedroom bungalow on a hillside surrounded by open fields. With no stairs to worry about it’s a great dog friendly holiday cottage for older pets, and as you’re only one mile from Portreath you can choose everyday between having a sniff in the local countryside or a splash about in the Cornish surf.

Cradducks Oast near Staplehurst is set within ten acres of beautiful Kent countryside. Your dog will love to explore the paddocks, fields and orchards that surround this property, as will you, especially in summer and autumn when you’re free to pick and eat the fruit from the trees and bushes.

If you’re looking for dog friendly holiday cottages in the North York Moors then the charming Everley Cottage, close to Hackness, is one for you. It’s surrounded by the stunning scenery of the Forge Valley, and the large wooded slopes and wide-open fields make this a perfect place for your dog to enjoy running free.

If your dog loves a good run along the beach then Puffins Reach in Swanage, Dorset is a fine place to stay. It’s just minutes from the Jurassic Coast, and if you find you’d like a change from the sand then Puffins Reach is also right next to Durlston Nature Reserve. This well equipped cottage can sleep up to seven people, along with your pet.

In central Suffolk you’ll find The Farm, a dog friendly holiday cottage that is full of character. Timbered walls, a thatched roof, beamed ceilings and a medieval well are a testament to the age of this building, though it is comfortably furnished with all modern conveniences. There are plenty of places to explore nearby, including the famous Thornham Walks.

High Slakes is a Cumbrian haven, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The cottage near Milburn is in the desirable Eden Valley area, and the views and walking are stunning. There is also a lake behind the house, stocked with trout, and sixteen acres of mature conservation woodland for you and your dog to roam at will.

Tyn Gaer is a classic Welsh farm cottage near Dolgellau that is perfectly positioned for you to explore the surrounding countryside of Snowdonia National Park. Cadair Idris is visible from your doorstep, beckoning you and your dog to walk its mountainous slopes, while the River Wnion flows a short distance from your doorstep.

On a hillside overlooking Lynton in Devon is Hollerday Cottage. A picture postcard dog friendly holiday cottage in prime walking country, you will actually be in Exmoor National Park during your stay, and many famous beauty spots are also easily accessible including Heddon Valley, Watersmeet and the Doone Valley.

Friars Cottage is a converted farm building close to Ash, with large private gardens and plenty of winding footpaths to follow nearby. It’s a great base from which to explore this corner of Kent: Canterbury, Margate, and Sandwich are all a short drive away.

Tom’s Barn is a single-storey cobble and wood lap barn conversion in the Norfolk town of Aylmerton. It’s in the Norfolk Coast AONB, close to the coastal town of Cromer, so its great for seaside and country walks. And should you wish to explore somewhere that isn’t suitable for dogs, the owner of the property is able to provide occasional pet sitting in safe kennels, meaning that your four legged friend will be well looked after in your abscence. A very dog friendly holiday cottage indeed.