But you don’t have to borrow a dog to stay in a dog-friendly cottage!
They say happiness is dog-shaped, and even Pork Belly (who remains staunchly, defiantly, a cat person) agrees there’s nothing finer than a brisk tramp across the countryside with a canine companion. Fresh air, muddy boots, and a creature of boundless enthusiasm who genuinely believes every single stick is the best stick they’ve ever seen. What’s not to love?
Dog-friendly travel in the UK has absolutely boomed in recent years. According to a 2024 survey, a whopping 85% of dog-owning holidaymakers would prefer to take their pets on a staycation rather than leave them behind and with the number of dog-friendly cottages across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland running well into the tens of thousands, there’s really no excuse to leave your four-legged best mate at home. Around 63% of Brits are planning a UK break in 2026, with over a third making it their main holiday, so the staycation market for dogs has never been so well-catered for.
So here are our tips for finding the best dog-friendly holiday cottages in the UK and a round-up of where to start your search.
What to look for in dog friendly holiday cottages
Before you start browsing, have a think about your dog’s specific needs. Dogs Trust (who really do know their stuff when it comes to canine welfare) offer some handy guidance to help you choose the right place.
Top tips for choosing a dog-friendly place to stay:
- If your dog is used to a quiet life with few cars, don’t choose accommodation in a traffic-heavy area, a cottage on a busy high street is unlikely to be anyone’s idea of a relaxing holiday.
- If your dog normally sleeps in the bedroom with you, make sure the property actually permits that. Some dog-friendly cottages have rules about where pets can go within the accommodation, so it’s worth checking.
- Conversely, if your dog is happily accustomed to sleeping in the lounge or a utility room, check that’s feasible, not every open-plan Airbnb-style barn conversion lends itself to keeping a dog contained overnight.
- Check how dog-friendly the surrounding area is. Can you take your dog into local cafés? Do the nearby beaches allow dogs year-round, or only outside peak season?
Other things worth checking:
- Look for properties with a fully enclosed garden. It’s a real bonus for dogs who fancy a potter about without you having to spring into action every five minutes.
- Before you let your dog out to explore, always check that fences and gates are genuinely secure on arrival. Don’t just assume.
- Look for plenty of accessible walks straight from the door. You don’t want to be driving to every single walk, especially if you’ve got a very enthusiastic Labrador.
Most holiday homeowners are more than happy to answer questions before you book. Don’t be afraid to ask as no reasonable host will mind you enquiring about gate heights, nearby livestock fields, or whether the cottage has a dog-specific washing-down area (increasingly common in 2026, we’re pleased to report).
Travelling comfortably with your dog
Most of us will drive to our dog-friendly holiday cottages, and it’s worth getting this bit right. Under Rule 57 of the Highway Code, dogs must be “suitably restrained” in a vehicle. Which means a well-fitted seatbelt harness, a secured pet carrier, or a dog crate in the boot. It’s not just the law; it’s genuinely the safest option for everyone in the car.
Dogs should never be left unattended in a car at any time of year, even for short periods and if you’re making a pit stop, take them with you or leave a responsible human in the car. On warm days in particular, temperatures inside a parked car can rise dangerously fast.
A few tips to make the journey less of an ordeal:
- Plan plenty of comfort breaks, roughly every two hours is sensible, and certainly more often for puppies, elderly dogs, or anxious travellers.
- Non-spill water bowls are your friend. Hydration is important, especially in warmer months.
- Help your dog get in and out of the car safely. Don’t let them launch themselves out the moment the door opens, a calm sit-and-wait before you guide them in or out prevents injuries (and avoids the humiliation of being dragged across a motorway services car park).
- Make sure your dog feels secure in their travel setup before the big trip. A few short practice runs in the weeks beforehand can make a real difference.
- Use treats generously and drive as smoothly as you can, jerky braking and sharp cornering is not a vibe for anyone, human or hound.
A 2025 campaign launched at Crufts highlighted that an estimated 3.5 million dogs in the UK travel with their heads out of the car window, which vets warn puts them at serious risk of eye injuries and worse. Cute? Yes. Safe? Absolutely not.
• Advice from The Dogs Trust on travelling by car with a dog
How to help your dog settle quickly on holiday
Dogs tend to love holidays every bit as much as their owners – sometimes considerably more. The excitement of new smells, new walks, and dozens of new things to bark at can be a lot, so a bit of groundwork helps.
Teach your dog to settle in unfamiliar environments before you go. Practice in friends’ houses, hotel lobbies, pub gardens, anywhere that isn’t home. The more varied their experiences, the easier they’ll adapt.
When you pack, bring the comforts of home: their bed, their favourite blanket, their regular food and water bowls, and a good supply of treats. Familiar smells are genuinely calming for dogs in new environments, and nobody wants to spend the first evening of their holiday hunting for dog food in an unfamiliar village Co-op at 8pm.
Dogs Trust offer excellent free guidance on settle training on their website, well worth a look before you set off.
Where to Find the Best Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages in the UK
Right then. Suitably trained and ready to go. Here’s where to start your search.
Rural Retreats
For genuinely luxurious, characterful self-catering cottages in some of the UK’s most beautiful out-of-the-way locations, Rural Retreats was named a Which? Recommended Provider for UK Holiday Cottages in May 2025, no small accolade. They specialise in stylish, well-appointed properties where your dog is a welcome guest rather than a grudgingly tolerated one.
Think traditional croft conversions in the Scottish Highlands with Atlantic Gulf Stream-warmed summers and night skies so spectacular that your evening dog-walk becomes a stargazing adventure. Or, if you’re travelling with multiple dogs and need more space, larger properties close to the Yorkshire Dales, the Pennines, and the Lake District, proper walking country where the dog will sleep like a log and you’ll feel tremendously virtuous.
How about a barn conversion made for two? Am Bathach is renowned for stunning scenery and wildlife, and you’ll find Hebridean sheep grazing on the heather hills nearby.
Surprising for a place so far north, Sutherland has warm summers (because of the Atlantic Gulf Stream) and spectacular sunsets all year round. If star gazing is your thing, the night skies are stunning, making your evening dog-walk an adventure.
Got more than one dog so need the space? Check out Scargill Castle in County Durham, which can take up to three dogs. Built on the site of a medieval castle, it has all mod cons and is close to the Yorkshire Dales, The Pennines and The Lake District.
Follow the link to find many more *dog-friendly cottages in rural settings
Holidaycottages.co.uk
Holidaycottages.co.uk now offers over 10,000 dog-friendly properties across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, making it one of the largest dedicated dog-friendly cottage platforms in the UK. Whatever you’re after – coastal, countryside, hot tub, enclosed garden, sleeps-twelve barn conversion for an extended family reunion – they’ll have something.
Cornwall topped their survey as the number one dog-friendly holiday destination, followed by Devon (with over 1,400 options), and Cumbria, beloved for Lake District walking holidays. Norfolk and North Yorkshire also feature strongly.
The West Country in particular remains irresistible for families with dogs: miles of coast path walks, beaches with good seasonal access for dogs, and no shortage of pubs that’ll welcome a muddy spaniel without so much as a raised eyebrow.
Two legs or four, you’ll be welcome at any one of these * dog friendly cottages across the UK.
The West Country is a popular spot for families with pets, and Cornwall has plenty of options.
The excitingly named Smuggler’s Den in Padstow can take two dogs in this characterful, four storey period cottage. And there are great walkies to be had on the South West Coast Path.
And in Devon, Higher Holcombe Farm could be just what you’re looking for.
The cottage is set back from the country lane up a long, private drive shared only with the owners. Guests can take advantage of some excellent walks, including the route along the River Lim to Lyme Regis.
And for seaside fun, Lower Manor Farm near Weymouth has three cottages within a short distance of the coast. Goldfinch, Skylark and Swallows all have enclosed gardens and can take up to two dogs.
Two more that are well worth looking at.
Canine Cottages
As the name rather gives away, Canine Cottages exist specifically for dog-owning holidaymakers. Part of The Travel Chapter Group, they’ve curated a vast collection of properties where dogs are the priority, with filters for enclosed gardens, multiple dogs welcome, dog-friendly pubs nearby, and more. If you want the booking process to feel reassuringly tailored to your particular pack, this is a very good place to start.
Find your perfect break at Canine Cottages
Sykes Cottages
Sykes Cottages offer over 13,000 dog-friendly properties across the UK, and picked up the Silver Award for Best Company for UK Holiday Home Rentals at the 2025 British Travel Awards. A solid, reliable option with a huge range of properties, particularly strong in the north of England.
Browse Sykes Cottages dog-friendly properties
Before you book any holiday cottage, make sure you check for additional charges involved if you are taking pets – some cottages charge extra for dogs, while others are all-inclusive.
Dog-Friendly Days Out: Make the Most of Your Holiday
Once you’re there, the fun really starts.
English Heritage* is a brilliant resource for dog-friendly days out, with castles, abbeys and historic gardens welcoming dogs across the country. Highlights include Whitby Abbey (gothic ruins, sea views, and the faint possibility that your dog will re-enact a scene from Dracula), Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, and Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire. English Heritage also offer dog-friendly holiday cottages within their own historic properties, including at a castle, abbey, and stately home, where dogs are welcome with a cleaning charge of £30 per stay. Not a bad deal for a night in a medieval castle, when you think about it.
National Trust for Scotland is similarly excellent for dog-friendly exploring north of the border. Many of their properties welcome dogs across their grounds, from Balmacara Estate, winner of ‘most dog-friendly Trust property’, to the vast coastal paths at Culzean Castle. Just remember to keep dogs on a lead near livestock, and observe any site-specific guidance.
The National Trust in England and Wales runs a Pooch Passport scheme, where collecting stamps from visits earns your dog treats and a commemorative dog tag, which feels entirely on-brand for a nation that buys birthday cards on behalf of its dogs.
A Few Sensible Reminders Before You Go
- Check pet fees before you book. Some properties charge extra for dogs (typically £15–£50 per stay), while others include them in the headline price. Always read the small print.
- Always keep your dog on a lead in fields with livestock. This is a legal requirement under the Animals Act 1971 during lambing season, and just basic good sense the rest of the year. Farmers are not obliged to find your wandering dog charming.
- Always clean up after your dog. Yes, even in the middle of nowhere. Yes, even when you think no one is watching. Someone is always watching.
- Double-check beach dog restrictions. Many UK beaches allow dogs year-round on certain stretches but have seasonal restrictions (typically May to September) on others. Check before you go rather than discovering it with an excited dog already halfway to the water.
Happy dog-filled holidays, and may your four-legged travelling companion sleep all the way home.
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