There’s no need to leave your dog at home on your next UK holiday or short break. But with an abundance of dog-friendly holiday cottages available to book, how do you choose the right one for both you and your four-legged friend.
Choosing the right dog-friendly cottage
Dogs come in all shapes, temperaments and sizes so requirements for a dog-friendly cottage will vary a lot from one person to the next.
If you have a more boisterous dog who likes to run around and get muddy, you probably want to look for a holiday cottage with outside space and easy-to-clean hard floors (ideally with underfloor heating to keep you all nice and toasty).
Partridge Cottage comes with gorgeous heated flagstone floors.
If you dog has a quieter temperate, they may well be happy to lie on a blanket in front of the fire and enjoy life’s creature comforts.
The gorgeous dog-friendly Castle & Cobbles in Richmond
Bear in mind that most holiday cottages have strict rules about dogs going into bedrooms or on furniture.
A bit of luxury for you and the dog
Holidays are always a treat so it’s always nice to push the boat out and dog-friendly holiday cottages are now more luxurious than ever before.
Mouse Manor is a luxurious dog-friendly holiday home.
You’ll find dog-friendly holiday cottages with hot tubs, saunas and top-quality furniture and finishes. Roseberry View near Stokesley even provides doggies with their own chaise longue under the stairs.
Dogs will love their own chaise longue at Roseberry View.
With a wide selection of luxury dog-friendly holiday cottages there is no need to settle for anything less than 5-star accommodation.
Location, location, location
Some UK towns and villages are definitely more dog-friendly than others (we may be biased but we think Yorkshire is very dog-friendly). Some of our favourite dog-friendly towns and villages include Helmsley, Robin Hoods Bay, Malton and Pateley Bridge.
Pateley Bridge is a very dog-friendly Nidderdale village
Look out for destinations which have shops, cafés and pubs that will welcome your four-legged friends.
Dog-friendly pubs, restaurants and attractions
Owners and booking agents of dog-friendly holiday cottages should be able to point you in the right direction of places you can eat and drink with your four-legged friend in tow. There may be limited sections for dog-friendly dining so we would always recommend booking in advance and checking if there are any special restrictions.
The gardens and grounds of many stately homes and castles will happily allow well-behaved dogs but you may well have to keep them on a lead.
Dog-friendly attractions in Yorkshire include Helmsley Walled Garden, Ryedale Folk Museum and the Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park.
Research walks for you and your dog before travel
Ideally, you’ll want to stay somewhere where there is an abundance of walks from your front door. It’s important to be aware though of any hazards you may encounter such as steep inclines, sharp drops or rivers.
Don’t forget that there may be grazing sheep or local wildlife in the area so we would always recommend keeping the dog on a lead. You’ll find lots of walks to try on the website Dog Walks Yorkshire.
Book your dog-friendly cottage
Gorgeous Cottages have a hand-picked selection of dog-friendly cottages throughout the Yorkshire Coast, Moors, Dales and Wolds. Here are just a few of the properties available to book.
Coco – a 2-bedroom cottage with an enclosed courtyard garden in the dog-friendly town of Helmsley
Skyline – a spectacular 5-bedroom holiday home with a hot tub that looks out over the Teesdale Way.
Lawn House – a Grade II listed Georgian Manor House that’s set on the banks of the River Swale.
Granary Cottage – a gorgeous barn conversion for two that’s set in the moorland above Robin Hood’s Bay.
For help and advice in booking your next dog-friendly UK holiday, call the Gorgeous Cottages team on 01642 263 249.
Tags: Dog-friendly UK holidays, Dog-friendly Yorkshire, Dog-friendly Yorkshire towns and villages, Tips for booking a dog-friendly holiday
