Luxury Dog Friendly Cottages

What makes a dog-friendly cottage genuinely luxurious

Plenty of holiday lets say dogs are welcome. Fewer are set up for them properly. In a well run dog-friendly home the hard floors are downstairs, there is somewhere to dry a wet spaniel before it reaches the sofa, and the outdoor space is fenced so you are not chasing anyone down a lane at 7am. Add the things you came for, such as a wood burner, a private hot tub on the terrace and a kitchen good enough to cook a proper dinner, and you have a break that works for everyone, four legs or two.

When you compare the properties in this collection, look out for:

• An enclosed garden. Almost 200 of these homes list one, and it is the most useful thing to have for a pet that likes to explore.
• A boot room or utility with a sink or outdoor tap for muddy paws after a coast path walk.
• Walks from the door. Many are in beautiful countryside or a short stroll from the beach, with trails nearby, so the car can stay put.
• A pub within walking distance. Plenty of country pubs welcome four-legged guests in the bar, which makes the evening easy.
• Somewhere warm to settle. A wood burner or log stove gives a tired pup a spot to stretch out, and you a reason to stay in.

Our luxury dog-friendly cottages at a glance

The collection covers most of Britain, with the biggest choice in the South West. Cornwall and Devon alone offer well over a hundred pet-friendly properties, close to beaches and the South West Coast Path.

A few dog-friendly cottages we like

Sea Salt Barn near Braunton in North Devon is a two bedroom barn for four, with an enclosed garden, a fire pit and a wood burner, and the beaches at Saunton and Croyde a short drive away. It suits a couple or a small family with one dog, and the coast paths nearby are great to explore.

Long Barn at North Barsham in Norfolk sleeps eight and has the full set: an enclosed garden, a hot tub, a wood burner and a pub within walking distance, with the north Norfolk beaches nearby.

For a big gathering, Windermere Retreat in Bowness sleeps 36 across 18 bedrooms, with an enclosed garden, a hot tub, a games room and a cinema room. In Devon, Roupel Estate near Tiverton sleeps 18 and adds lake views, extensive gardens and a fire pit. On the Cornish coast, Tides Edge at Portreath has sea views and the beach a short walk away.

Choose by what matters most

Most people start with the pet-friendly part and then add one more thing, like a hot tub or a beach. These collections help narrow it down:

Before you book: the practical bits

How many dogs, and what it costs

Most of these properties accept one or two dogs, and some larger houses take more. Owners usually add a per-pet charge to cover extra cleaning, so check how many are allowed and the fee on the property page before you book, or call the owner if you have more than two.

House rules worth knowing

Common rules are no pets on beds or upstairs furniture, nobody left alone in the house, and old towels for muddy paws rather than the white ones in the bathroom. Taking your own bed, bowls and a familiar blanket helps them settle on the first night.

Walks, beaches and livestock

Many popular beaches restrict dogs in the summer, typically from around Easter or May until the end of September, while others stay dog-friendly all year. Check the signs or the local council website for the beach you have in mind. Inland, the Countryside Code asks you to use a lead around farm animals, and on open access land in England a short lead is required from 1 March to 31 July to protect ground nesting birds.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the easiest times for a dog-friendly holiday. Beaches reopen to pets after September, the paths are quieter, and a wood burner comes into its own on a cold evening. Christmas and New Year book up early, especially for the larger houses.

Why book a dog-friendly cottage with us

Every property here is checked against its own listed features, so if it shows in this collection the owner has said pets are welcome. You can see the outdoor space, pools and location details for each one, compare them side by side and then book with the owner or agency at their own price. Browse the full list above, or head to all our luxury cottages if the dog is staying with the neighbours this time.