Dog-friendly Cottage Getaways
Our top picks for some cottage getaways with your canine, for the whole group holiday or just a break away for two with your best furry friend, find a fabulous cottage escape.
- Norwich, EnglandNestling in the pretty Norfolk countryside close to the heart of the Norfolk Broads, Willow Barn (ref CZB) and single-storey Beech Barn (ref CZU) and Alderfen Barn (ref UK30458) are detached holiday properties dating back to the 1700s, situated in the grounds of the owner’s home. Providing a perfect retreat for discerning larger family groups, these converted barns offer spacious and comfortable accommodation boasting beamed interiors, wood-burning stoves and enclosed separate gardens with private hot tubs, and for a special meal or family celebration gourmet meals can be arranged with the owner.
For Beech Barn (ref CZU), between Easter and the 16th July, and the 1st September-1st November, for 7 night bookings the owner is offering free boat hire for one day.
Beech Farm Barns are ideally located for all the family and for nature lovers there is an abundance of bird life. Within walking distance is Alderfen Broad, which is situated in The Broads National Park, a bird watcher’s delight. For the children there is BeWILDerwood Adventure Park with its treehouses, zip wires, jungle bridges and boat trips, which all combined makes a great day out. Nearby is the attractive Broads village of Horning with its selection of tea shops, restaurants and pubs. A day boat can be hired directly from the owner, or book a trip on the Mississippi steamer. The sandy beaches of the North Norfolk Coast are only 10 miles away. Alternatively spend a day in the fine city of Norwich with its magnificent cathedrals, castle, museums, theatres, market and vast array of cafes and shops. There is a wealth of National Trust properties to visit in the area which include Felbrigg Hall, Garden and Park (one of the finest 17th-century country Jacobean houses in East Anglia), Blickling Hall (a magnificent house with woodlands and lakeside walks) and Sheringham Park (beautifully landscaped and renowned for its spectacular displays of azaleas and rhododendrons in late spring). Shops and pub 1½ miles.
Beech Barn (CZU), Willow Barn (CZB) and Alderfen Barn (UK30458) can be booked together to accommodate up to 32 guests.£104From price per night based on 7 night stay
- Lamas, EnglandLock Cottage offers the perfect place in which to relax and unwind, having a stunning location overlooking the water meadows, a natural habitat for bird and wildlife, so be sure to bring binoculars! Lock Cottage has been renovated to a very high standard and offers spacious and contemporary living, boasting its own games room with table tennis and first floor balcony terrace taking full advantage of the amazing views. Located on the edge of a peaceful village with a local shop and pub a short walk away, the cottage neighbours an impressive water mill and water meadows with miles of riverside walks, fishing and canoeing. Set between the Broads and the North Norfolk coastline, the cottage offers an excellent holiday location. The Broads are just a short drive away and at Wroxham, the ‘capital of the Broads’, daily boat hire is available to explore the famous waterways abundant with bird and wildlife, as well as many inns, restaurants or cafés that can be found along the riverside. Norfolk’s coastline with soft sandy beaches is readily accessible, as are RSPB bird and nature reserves, the coastal path offering bracing walks and the traditional seaside resorts of Cromer and Sheringham which offer a range of amenities to suit all ages. Explore the many traditional market towns, National Trust properties and gardens along with the popular city of Norwich renowned for its excellent shopping and beautiful Norman castle museum. For activities appealing to children try Banham Zoo, Wroxham Barns and Craft Centre, Bewilderwood at Horning, Dinosaur Adventure Park at Lenwade, West Runton Shire Horse Centre or Splash fun pool at Sheringham. Shop and pub ¼
mile. £176From price per night based on 7 night stay
- Wells-next-the-Sea, EnglandThis traditional flint and brick holiday cottage is one of a pair tucked away in a small courtyard of four properties in the heart of this bustling seaside town, within walking distance of the harbour. An excellent sandy beach is 1 mile further. Ideal for a family holiday by the sea and exploring the beautiful North Norfolk coastline. Sailing, windsurfing, boat trips, riding and cycling available locally. RSPB bird and nature reserve close by. Holkham Hall parkland and beach are 2 miles. Bustling Burnham Market, 5 miles. The Sandringham Royal Estate and museum, 10 miles. City of Norwich for theatre, excellent shopping malls, outdoor market and the famous Norfolk Broads are an hour’s drive. Shops and pubs 800 yards.£71From price per night based on 7 night stay
- Brancaster, EnglandA stunning holiday property standing detached, set on the edge of the Salt Marshes in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Marsh Barn has been completely re-designed to offer spacious and well-equipped accommodation to discerning guests looking for somewhere of a very good standard in which to relax and unwind. Everything has been thought of, from well-appointed marble bathrooms, some of which have freestanding baths, a kitchen with extras such as warming drawers and a utility with drying area for wetsuits.
The rooms are light and airy, and provide breathtaking views across the Salt Marshes, with their ever-changing tidal patterns, towards the sea and golf club. Within large gardens with a sheltered, walled, sunny lawned garden and furniture, and leading to a fruit orchard and private hard tennis court, the property is well placed for guests who wish to leave their cars parked up for the whole week and explore on foot, as there are walks on the marsh, cycle routes, golf, sailing and award-winning pubs to discover every day, all within easy walking distance. The property is excellent for bird-watching enthusiasts, with direct access from the garden leading to the National Trust marshes and Coastal Path. It is also an easy walk to Brancaster’s sandy beach, golf and sailing club.
For those who like water, there is sailing, water skiing and windsurfing from the harbour for all ages and levels. Golfing enthusiasts will welcome the rare opportunity to play on the world class golf course too. Brancaster beach is beautiful year round and offers both a sunny retreat and bracing walks. There are a series of nature reserves to explore, including the RSPB-managed Titchwell Marsh, whose reed beds and lagoons are home to nesting avocets, marsh harriers and bitterns. From the little harbour at Brancaster Staithe, boats run to Scolt Head Island, also a bird sanctuary and nature reserve. Bustling Burnham Market is a 5-minute drive and offers a unique mix of boutique and antique shops and relaxed places to eat. Holkham’s beach, where parts of ‘Shakespeare in Love’ were filmed, is a 10-minute drive. A little further along is Wells-next-the-Sea, a popular fishing village renowned for its fresh seafood and quayside, full of colourful boats. No longer by the sea, it now stands on a creek, with a 1-mile walk along the embankment or a short ride on the miniature steam train that takes you to the excellent sandy beach. Further along the coast are the seal colonies at Blakeney Point. Less than half an hour’s drive is the Victorian seaside town of Hunstanton, with its unusual striped cliffs towering over 60 feet high, behind is the sandy beach full of rock pools at low tide.
The town boasts a Sea Life Centre, funfair, indoor swimming pool and a cliff-top golf course. There are many stately homes to visit, including Holkham Hall, a fine Palladian mansion overlooking Holkham beach, Houghton Hall and the Royal Sandringham Estate and museum. After a day spent exploring all that the area has to offer, return to stunning Marsh Barn and enjoy an evening of relaxation in beautiful comfort whilst planning the next adventure. Shops3/4 mile.£308From price per night based on 7 night stay
- Melton Constable, EnglandWith so much available on site, it may be hard to tear yourself away from The Paddocks. The small fishing lake offers carp from 6lbs to 8lbs, roach, rudd and tench for just £3 per person per day, and there is also a seasonal shop, bar and restaurant too. This makes for a great family base from which to explore the area and, better still, it is just 8 miles from the coast which is an AONB. These well presented, single-storey barn conversions at Barney (refs: 30953, 30954 and 30955) offer comfortable and relaxing accommodation whether you plan to unwind and get away from it all or emerse yourself in the multitude of activities that this area has to offer.
Close by lies Blakeney with its picturesque quay and quaint tradition of crabbing. This offers a great gateway to the wider Norfolk coastline with beaches that are great for sun-worshipping on, walking along and even bird watching. Boat trips can be taken to the seal colony and Blakeney Point Nature Island, and you are just 10 minutes from the beautiful market town of Holt. Within 15-20 minutes you will also find the Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, Thursford Collection and its Christmas Spectacular, Stody Lodge Gardens, RSPB at Cley Marshes, North Norfolk Railway, as well as the stunning seaside towns of Wells-next-the-Sea and Sheringham. Leisure pool and cinema in Fakenham. Within 30-40 minutes you will also find the NT properties, Sandringham, Holkham, with its famous beach, Houghton and Blickling, as well as Burnham Market, the seaside town of Cromer with its pier and other attractions, including Amazona Zoo.
The cottages are available to enjoy as single units or you can interconnect all three barns (refs: 30953, 30954 and 30955) for parties of 10, 12 or 16, so it’s perfect if you are travelling as a large group too! Within a 5-minute walk there is a shop, restaurant and bar, and on site are fishing, a children’s play area, large chess sets and a variety of games, as well as a pool table and table tennis. Shop 100 yards and restaurant/bar 400 yards.£91From price per night based on 7 night stay