There’s still time to make plans for the summer holidays. And what with the chaos and crowds of overseas travel this year, a staycation is a great option for a getaway with your four-legged friend. With last-minute deals in dog-friendly retreats across the UK, it’s not too late to book a holiday for you and your pet in some of the UK’s most scenic locations.
Whether you want a coastal bolthole in Cornwall, a cottage in the Lake District or even a windmill in the countryside, here are ten dog-friendly holiday homes available this summer.
1: Downhouse Cottage, Delabole, nr Port Isaac, Cornwall
Sleeps 4 + 2 dogs
The setting for TV series Doc Martin and Hollywood blockbuster Fisherman’s Friends, Port Isaac is an iconic fishing harbour nestled amidst some of Cornwall’s most rugged North Coast scenery. Home of craggy coves, Michelin-starred seafood restaurants and a fishing fleet that lands some of the ocean’s finest bounty, it’s an incredible location for a summer holiday. From your country-style cottage in nearby Delabole, you can soak up the stunning coastline and countryside views, strike out along the coast path for waggy-tailed walks, flop by the fire, or head out and explore Port Isaac, Padstow and Tintagel.
2: Auckland Cottage, Thornley, County Durham
Sleeps 9 + 2 dogs
Explore the North Pennines on long country walks with your dog, from a luxury base made for families and friends to gather and relax. Step outside into an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that’s crisscrossed with walking trails and cycle paths, and come home to a sauna, indoor swimming pool and hot tub with countryside views. This rural cottage in County Durham is well-equipped for chilling out after an action-packed day in the Great Outdoors, with a games room, open-plan living space and a large country kitchen that makes catering at home a breeze.
3: Llancayo Windmill, Usk, Monmouthshire
Sleeps 12 + 1 dog
Why not bag a unique summer holiday and take up residence in a windmill that’s been converted into a luxury retreat for 12? The most nimble of your guests can scale the five floors to the top, while dogs can stay on the ground floor with its enclosed garden and open balcony. Surrounded by rolling countryside there’s plenty of scope for dog walks, while nearby Usk is famous for its fishing and rural life museum, where you can delve into the history of this market town and its surrounds.
4: Lakeside Hut, Gillingham, Dorset
Sleeps 2 + 2 dogs
Lap up life’s simple pleasures from this cosy cabin made for two in the Dorset countryside. The perfect retreat for fishing enthusiasts, wildlife lovers and walkers, this thoughtfully designed shepherd’s hut is perched on the edge of a carp fishing lake, so you can practically cast your line from the garden. When you’re not trying to land the catch of the day, stretch your legs on a stroll through the Blackmore Vale, spot birdlife from your balcony and mosey around the market town of Shaftesbury to gather local produce to cook up in your lakeside kitchen.
5: The Bay, Cawsand, Cornwall
Sleeps 8 + 1 dog
Live to the beat of the ocean and the ebb and flow of the tides in a luxury ocean-edge apartment made for large families and a dog. Wake up with the sun and dip in the glassy bay on the doorstep, pad barefoot along the beach and skim stones with the dog at your heels, or hop on the passenger ferry (dogs allowed too) and join the sailing boats crossing Plymouth Sound. Back at your beachside abode bask on the balcony with morning coffee or a sundowner, recline on the plump corner sofa and lap up the sea views, or whip up a culinary storm or Cornish cream tea in your contemporary kitchen. A truly special place to stay for a last-minute escape to Cornwall.
6: Brithgwm Canol, Brithdir, Gwynedd
Sleeps 6 + 1 dog
If you’re looking for somewhere special tucked away from the summer crowds, bag this secluded cottage nestled down a forestry track in hundreds of acres of forest. Escape from it all and surround yourself with the North Wales countryside, living off-grid – yet in luxury – amidst the woodland, sheep farms and mountains of Snowdonia National Park. With board games, a woodburner and a well-equipped country kitchen, as well as a tree-swing and trampoline in the garden, you can hide away in your rural retreat, climb the hill for a picnic in the forest or kick back by the cascading stream.
7: The Cattle Shed, Wighton, Norfolk
Sleeps 10 + 2 dogs
Far from its original use as a cattle shed, this boutique barn conversion boasts designer living in a peaceful village setting just a few miles from Wells-next-the-Sea. The perfect location for a multi-generational family get-together, when you’re not gathered in the grand open-plan living and dining area, everyone has plenty of space to break out into their own luxury bedroom with high-spec ensuite facilities. And while there’s plenty to keep you entertained within the property, you can step outside into delightful countryside or get a blast of briny air on Norfolk’s nearby beaches.
8: Beautiful Ennerdale Bridge Property, Cumbria, Lake District
Sleeps 6 + 2 dogs
The Lake District is one of the UK’s most beautiful locations for a walking holiday with your dog. And this pretty cottage close to Ennerdale Water and surrounded by the peaks of the National Park, is a prime base to make the most of the area – from the beaches to the mountains. Stroll along the seafront of the nearby town of St Bees, loop around nearby Buttermere Lake, or choose to scale the hills in sight. Then back at your dog-friendly holiday cottage drop your walking kit in the boot room, unwind by the log burner and soak in the free-standing bath.
9: Weymouth Apartment B, Dorset
Sleeps 7 + 2 dogs
If you fancy a summer holiday with your dog in a quintessential seaside town, this beachfront apartment in Weymouth is a scenic spot for walks along the promenade or days on the beach. Step out onto the sand and take a dip in the ocean, cycle along the shoreline, or strike out along the South West Coast Path over the clifftops to Ringstead beach – which is dog-friendly year-round. A delightful location for families with pets, there are plenty of attractions on the doorstep, from the Jurassic Coast wonders of Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove to the fort at Nothe Gardens.
10: Gallaber Cottage, Burton in Lonsdale, North Yorkshire
Sleeps 4 + 1 dog
Bordering the Yorkshire Dales, Cumbria and Lancashire, this country-style barn conversion on a working farm, boasts panoramic views of stunning countryside awaiting the footfall of you and your dog. Set off into the rolling hills in any direction, follow the fells towards Ingleborough or enjoy a pint of local ale in the nearby village of Ingleton. Back in your Yorkshire country retreat, you’ll feel miles away from the hubbub of daily life – reclining on your four-poster bed, capturing the sunset or gazing out as far as the peaks of the Lake District.
Use our Broad Date Search to find your dog-friendly summer holiday cottage
There’s still lots of availability for last-minute dog-friendly summer holiday cottages. Our Broad Date Search tool makes it easy and quick to find a pet-friendly holiday pad to suit you. Simply enter your earliest arrival date and latest departure date to find all the holiday cottages available for you and your four-legged friend this summer.
