The summer holidays are almost upon us. But while many of us have been busy enjoying the latest spell of sunshine, we still haven’t booked a getaway for the big summer break.
Luckily, it’s not too late – there’s still time to bag a paw-friendly pad for some well deserved time off with your four-legged friend this July and August.
Whether you’re seeking white-sand beaches, culture with your canine or doggie days out in the heart of town, we’ve rounded up the best retreats still available for summer.
Instow Retreat, Northam, Devon
Best for: Beach life, adventures afloat, and walkies along the Tarka Trail
Sleeps 4 + 1 dog
From £1,023 per week in July and August
Open your eyes to waterside views, and slip outside for walkies along the sand at low tide. Just along the estuary from Appledore and Instow, this charming cottage is a wonderful base for meandering to waterside villages, bike rides along Devon‘s traffic-free Tarka Trail, and canoeing or paddlebaording along the River Torridge. Our top day out with the dog? Follow the water to the dog-friendly Instow beach, soak up the views over a tipple and seafood platter on the deck at the dog-friendly Boathouse, then hop on the ferry to Appledore to follow the river back to your retreat.
Oceangate, Newquay, Cornwall
Best for: Surfing life with your dog
Sleeps 4 + 2 dogs
From £1,632 per week. Limited availabilty in July & August
The best way to enjoy beach life in Cornwall in the summer holidays, is to plonk yourselves right beside the beach where you can yo-yo between the sand and stylish seaside living. And there’s nowhere better for surf lovers and dog lovers to base themselves than seconds from the shoreline of the world-famous Fistral Beach – the UK’s surf capital, with a mile of wave-lashed golden sands on your doorstep. When you’re not bounding along the shoreline, headlands and coast path, or riding the waves to your hearts content, you can relax in your contemporary apartment and soak up the sea views and sunsets with your feet up.
The Chapel, Whitsbury, Hampshire
Best for: Unique architecture and village life
Sleeps 4 + 1 dog
£1,512 per week. Limited availability in August only.
Settle into village life in a converted Methodist Chapel in the heart of Whitsbury. On the edge of Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs, there are countryside walks in every direction, as well as a charming village pub where you can refuel with a local ale in hand and your hound at your feet. This stylish family holiday home flaunts the original features of a chapel, now decked out with modern conveniences, a log burner and bi-fold doors opening onto an enclosed garden. If you want to hike beyond the local trails, it’s only 10 minutes’ drive to New Forest National Park, Moors Valley Country Park and Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve. With plenty of availability for the school summer holidays, it’s perfect for a last-minute summer break.
Chestnut, Toppesfield, Essex
Best for: Rural life and a hot tub close to London
Sleeps 6 + 2 dogs
From £1,900 per week in July and August
You don’t have to stray far from city life to get out in the countryside with your canine companion this summer. Nestled in the charming Toppesfield Hall Estate in the heart of Essex, this timber cabin offers the perfect combination of a rural retreat, wonderful walks and dog-friendly days out. Step out into six acres of rolling fields, wander through scenic woodland, and cross the border into Suffolk to enjoy the spoils of Clare Country Park. Back at your woodland retreat you can relax on the veranda, enjoy shared facilities including a tennis court and games room, and soak in your private hot tub, dreaming up another day of dog-friendly adventures.
High Trees, Cynwyl Elfed, Carmarthenshire
Best for: A summer hideaway for couples
Sleeps 2 + 2 dogs (one young child also permitted)
From £695 per week in July and August.
Just because it’s the summer holidays, it doesn’t mean there aren’t a few places where couples can escape for some peace and quiet with the dog. Squirrel away in this woodland retreat in Wales, where you can wake up to the soundtrack of nature and the babbling stream, and enjoy walkies along remote countryside trails. Indoors your country-style lodge is modern and spacious, with a sleek kitchen to rustle up feasts and a king-size bed for a sound night’s sleep. If you prefer not to cook there’s a dog-friendly pub a short walk away, or it’s just 15 minutes’ to the market town of Carmarthen. It’s an ideal last-minute summer cottage for two.
Brixham Getaway, Devon
Best for: Boat trips and coastal walks with the dog
Sleeps 8 + 2 dogs
From £2,490 per week. Limited availabilty in July & August
We love a summer getaway to Brixham, and if you love boat trips, coastal walks, fish and chips beside the harbour, so you will you and your dog. The perfect base to explore South Devon, this gorgeous property has a lawned garden and terrace to enjoy lazy summer mornings and evenings, between all sorts of dog-friendly days out including boat trips, train rides, beach walks and plenty of pitstops in dog-friendly watering holes with water bowls and treats at the ready.
Panorama House, Bournemouth, Dorset
Best for: Entertaining large groups and beach lovers
Sleeps 12 + 1 dog
£9,920 per week. Limited availability in July & August.
Large groups and multi-generational families with dogs can still bag a luxury, last-minute holiday home this summer. This elegant abode comes with eye-popping panoramas across Poole Bay, a beautiful garden, and direct access to seven miles of sands for early morning walkies and sunset strolls. Enjoy the World Heritage Jurassic Coastline and buzzing attractions of Bournemouth bang on the doorstep, entertain your guests on a piano that belonged to Max Bygraves, and relax in style in a mansion that’s seen Sir Winston Churchill amongst its regular guests.
Harbour View, Haverigg, Cumbria
Best for: A combo of coast and countryside in the Lake District
Sleeps 4 + 1 dog
From £656 per week. Limited availability in August.
Coast or countryside this summer? How about the best of both worlds from a family cottage within easy reach of Haverigg’s Blue Flag beach and the peaks of the Lake District? Climb to the summit of Black Combe which beckons just beyond the village, or meander along the shoreline from the doorstep. With the likes of Coniston Water, Scafell Pike and Grizedale Forest nearby, there’s no shortage of dog-friendly activities beckoning you outdoors. Then kick off your boots at the door and enjoy the Scandi-style furnishings, open-plan living space and creature comforts for unforgettable family holidays.
Penlaurel, Nr Launceston, Cornwall
Best for: Countryside bliss and beating the crowds in Cornwall
Sleeps 6 + 2 dogs
From £2464 per week. Limited availability in July and August
While everyone flocks to Cornwall for its beaches in the summer months, why not escape the madding crowds and coastal traffic on a Fido-friendly break to the country’s rolling moors and countryside? Step outside your luxury abode into a wildlife haven with a web of walking trails, or head out a little further to explore the wide open spaces of Bodmin Moor, The Copper Trail, and the Tamar Valley.
This magical Georgian retreat comes with king-size beds, a private hot tub, and a wood burner for cosy nights in. The gardens are a riot of colour, complete with an outdoor swing for balmy afternoons and plenty of enclosed space for your dog to roam safely.
Yet to make plans for the summer holidays and fancy a last-minute getaway with your dog?
Use our date search tools to find the perfect paw-friendly holiday retreat for you, your family and your four-legged friend. There are still plenty of last-minute summer cottages available for a getaway during the holidays.
