PetsPyjamas’ Guide to Dog-Friendly Norfolk
The eastern coastal county of Norfolk is definitely one of our all time favourites for a dog-friendly escape. It has so much to offer humans as well as their four-legged companions. Think epic skies, sprawling, unspoilt beaches, fabulous countryside as well as charming small towns and villages in addition to fabulous historic houses. Mostly rural it has a pastoral feel which makes it the ideal weekend escape or summertime getaway with a furry friend in tow.
At 84 miles long, the Norfolk Coast Path covers some amazing areas along Norfolk’s coastline. It stretches all the way from Hunstanton in the west to Hopton-on-Sea in the south east, providing endless walks with the majority of the trails forming part of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Whether you fancy taking a barge along the broads, a beachside stay along the sandy coastline or a country stay – there is so much choice and so much to do. Take your dog for a run along Holkham beach with its white sands, dunes and pinewoods – part of one of the largest National Nature Reserves or visit Wells-next-the-Sea with its golden sandy beach dotted with colourful beach huts – both beaches are dog-friendly year round. Don’t forget to check out the gorgeous village of Burnham Market with its plethora of dog-friendly cafes, pubs and restaurants.
We’ve rounded up some of the best pet-friendly country house hotels, country inns and cottages as well as barges to circumnavigate the Norfolk Broads where your dog will feel as welcome as you are – some with our amazing PetsPyjamas packages attached.
We’ve also sniffed out the best places for walkies, amazing dog-friendly attractions in the area and fabulous country and coastal pubs to stop for a well-earned lunch where your four-legged companion will no doubt be given treats and have the chance to rub noses with other Norfolk canines.
Bow-Wow Factor
Must be the wonderful wild unspoilt beaches like Holkham with its pine forest and nature reserve where you and your dog can walk for miles or Wells-next-the-Sea with its colourful clapboard beach huts and sprawling pine fringed beach. It’s a doggy paradise!
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🍽 Dog-Friendly Pubs and Eateries
🏖 Our Favourite Dog-Friendly Beaches
Dog-Friendly Places to Stay in Norfolk
There is a wonderful array of dog-friendly places to stay in Norfolk. From luxurious country houses to stylish coastal inns, cosy cottages, manor houses and even barges! Norfolk has it all.
Suitable for all breeds and budgets, our pet-friendly Norfolk hotels and cottages have all been given our PetsPyjamas paw or approval.
Dog-Friendly Norfolk Hotels
Our PetsPyjamas hotels are all incredibly dog-welcoming, some with exclusive pet packages. Here are a few of our favourite dog-friendly Norfolk hotels.
The Ship Inn, Mundesley
Overlooking the golden sands of Mundesley Beach on the North Norfolk coast, this ‘restaurant with rooms’ is the perfect destination for eating, drinking and relaxing with your best furry friend by your side. Dating back 300 years, it is perhaps the oldest pub on the Norfolk coast. The Ship serves locally sourced seasonal menus and your canine companion is welcome to join in with the culinary experience as sausages are on hand at breakfast. The boutique style rooms are light and airy with nautical interiors and doggy guests are encouraged to enjoy the beautiful gardens and venture further afield onto the stunning beaches.
The Globe Inn, Norfolk
Overlooking a pretty, leafy Georgian square in the dog-friendly seaside town of Wells-next-the-Sea, The Globe Inn is perfectly placed for an adventure with your best furry friend on the beautiful North Norfolk coast. Newly refurbished and inspired by the town’s maritime charm, the pub and dining room have been beautifully updated with an eclectic mix of travel ephemera and the bedrooms are reimagined with lovely coastal inspired fabrics and soft pastels. Your dog is welcome to dine with you in the restaurant or bar and there is a brand-new menu and enthusiastic team looking forward to welcoming you and your canine companion. Your dog will love the fabulous beach at Wells-next-the-sea as well as the nearby beaches at Brancaster and Holkham.
The Feathers, Norfolk
The dog-friendly Feathers takes pride of place in the Norfolk town of Holt – an elegant Georgian town full of stylish dog-friendly cafes and boutiques just three miles from the spectacular North Norfolk coast and the nearby heathland which is a haven for birdwatching. A perfect getaway for beach loving canines, the hotel is traditional and cosy. Dine with your dog in the restaurant after a busy day of beach walks. Felbrigg Hall, the Blickling Estate, Holkham Hall and the Sandringham Estate are all within a short distance and Norwich is just 20 miles away.
Dog-Friendly Norfolk Cottages
Our PetsPyjamas Norfolk cottages and barns are super dog-friendly. Suitable for all breeds and budgets, here are a few of our favourite pet-friendly cottages you and your dog will want to stay in.
Quaker Barns, Norfolk
Two luxury barn conversions are set in the grounds of a 17th-century farmhouse in rural North Norfolk. Perfect for a family group or party of friends plus dogs, these south-facing properties have uninterrupted views, pretty gardens and country walks straight from the doorstep. The Norfolk Broads, the coast and the city of Norwich are all within easy reach of the cottages so your four-legged friend can enjoy a little of the country, seaside and city. The cottages can be booked together or separately and together sleep up to 17. The first barn – Quaker Barn, has simple stylish décor. Its underfloor heating, wood burner and straw insulation makes this cottage ideal to rent in both the winter and summer.
Slightly smaller than its neighbour Hall Barn, Quaker Barn sleeps up to eight. Hall Barn is the second barn and has understated contemporary style decor which fuses old with new with beams and a wood burner creating a warm and cosy ambience. Hall Barn has four bedrooms sleeping up to nine guests plus pets.
Clipper Cottage, Norfolk
A charming two bedroom traditional flint and brick dog-friendly holiday cottage in the sought after Wells-Next-The-Sea, Clipper Cottage is cosy and comfortable. With a wood burning stove and enclosed lawned garden and patio the cottage is tucked away in a small courtyard in the heart of this bustling sea town within walking distance of the harbour. An excellent sandy beach is a mile away. Holkham Hall parkland and beach are two miles away and the Sandringham Estate just 10 minutes away. There’s a fully fitted kitchen and plenty of dog-friendly pubs and cafes close by.
Dog-Friendly Pubs & Eateries in Norfolk
There is quite a foodie scene in Norfolk with dog-friendly gastro pubs and inns in picture-perfect market towns and villages or set by the sea like the Globe Inn in Wells-next-the-Sea, The Victoria at Holkham and the Gunton Arms which serves up venison from the deer park, beef from the local herd and seafood including Cromer crab caught by local fishermen.
Expect locally grown produce in flint clad and oak beamed historic inns in the prettiest villages. In addition to fabulous food and hospitality you will find that your dog is just as welcome as you are and may even be invited to rub noses with the local hounds who no doubt will be equally pleased to make friends.
We’ve put together some of our favourite dog-friendly Norfolk eateries where you and your dog can enjoy fine dining, an afternoon tea and perfect gastropub fayre.
Our Favourite Dog Walks in Norfolk
Norfolk is a fabulous location for dog walks which showcase the best of the countryside, The Broads as well as the coast. The Norfolk Coast Path which stretches for 84 miles and covers some amazing areas along Norfolk’s coastline provides endless walks with the majority of the trails forming part of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
As well as the fabulous coastal walks there are also wonderful woodland, country parks and trails to explore such as The Bittern Line Walk which follows an old railway line with great pubs along the way. So whether you take your dog for a run along Holkham beach or a walk in the woodlands of Holt Country Park, the opportunities are endless!
You may prefer to take your dog on a shorter circular walk or a longer walk for more active dogs. Either way you will be rewarded with stunning landscapes, gorgeous vistas and fabulous beaches but best of all a happy dog at the end of the day. Here are some of our favourite dog walks in Norfolk.
Dog-Friendly Beaches in Norfolk
Dogs love nothing better than running for miles off the leash on a lovely wide sandy beach and Norfolk has some of the best dog-friendly beaches in the UK. On many of the beaches the tide goes out for miles, so you and your best furry friend can enjoy swathes of sand backed by nature reserves, sand dunes and huge skies. It’s such a fabulous place to take your dog with so much choice!
Many of our favourite beaches are dog-friendly year round. There are 28 great beaches in Norfolk, many of which can be reached via the Norfolk coast path running 83 miles from Hunstanton to Hopton-on-Sea and provides fabulous scenery and landscape along the way taking you along Hunstanton cliffs,Wells-next-the-sea, Blakeney, Sheringham and Mundesley.
We’ve compiled a collection of dog-friendly beaches in Norfolk we think you and your dog will love. Not only are many dog-friendly year-round, but they include favourites like Holkham and Brancaster beach and cliff top walks as well as dog-friendly beachside cafes and pubs along the way. Here are a few of our favourite dog-friendly beaches in Norfolk.