Fido Family Friendly Places

Take a beautiful Peak District National Park setting, just 3½ miles from Bakewell, add a historic hall (first recorded in the Domesday Book), and an ancient cluster of listed buildings converted to form superb holiday cottage accommodation, and the result is the captivating blend that is Harthill Hall.

Nestling in 14 acres of grounds on an upland called Priest’s Hill with excellent walking available from the doorstep, the properties have the use of an extensive range of leisure facilities including an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, solarium and treatment rooms. Noble names have woven the threads of the hall’s long history including Henry de Ferrers, the Cokaynes and the Harthills. Henry VIII is also believed to have stayed at the hall.

It was here in 1259 that Sir Richard de Hartle was issued a Papal Bull by Pope Alexander II, allowing him to appoint his own chaplain. The chapel ceased its functions as a place of worship in 1546 and now takes the form of The Chapel and Hartle Cottage. The eight cottages are furnished with antiques and surround a medieval cobbled courtyard. They all retain a wealth of original features including thick stone walls, large oak beams, mullion windows and flagstone floors. Derbyshire’s bustling market towns, villages, hills, dales and rivers offer majestic scenery, and a rich variety of customs. Boasting a varied and beautiful landscape, they offer a blend of heritage, history and family attractions.

The beautiful market town of Bakewell (3½ miles) is situated on the River Wye, crossed by a 13th-century five-arched bridge which has coffee shops and restaurants. Within easy reach are Matlock, Hall Leys Park, Chesterfield, Alfreton and Buxton. National Trust properties and gardens nearby include Riley Graves, Longshaw, Mam Tor, South Peak, Dovedale, Hardwick Hall and Kedleston Hall. Close by are both Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall. Golf and horse riding are available within 5 miles. Shop 3½ miles, pub 1 mile.

Just 500 yards from the glorious sand duned beach at Kessingland, a traditional seaside village on the Suffolk Heritage Coast, is this superb, very spacious, detached holiday home. The house has the added addition of a private hot tub, large garden, its own cinema room with a 2½ metre screen and a games room, and is the ideal base for a family holiday or for friends to get together to relax and unwind. Only 4 miles away is the popular resort of Lowestoft, which offers traditional seaside entertainment, and children will love Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park, which is just a short drive away. Just down the road is Africa Alive, or visit the lovely seaside resort of Southwold, famous for Adnams Brewery, the pier and summer theatre. Dunwich Heath and Beach, RSPB Minsmere, Aldeburgh with its fishing boats and local seafood, and Snape Maltings Concert Hall are also easily accessible. Hire a boat on the glorious Norfolk Broads and watch the weekly speed boat racing on nearby Oulton Broad. The medieval city of Norwich, with its fine shopping, castle, cathedral and museums, is an easy drive. Beach 500 yards. Shop, pub and restaurant 100 yards.

This imposing Edwardian country house stands in its own garden overlooking sheep grazing the common at Goathland, whilst the views of moors and forest may be enjoyed from the west-facing terrace. Set in the village of Goathland, perhaps better known as Aidensfield from the TV series Heartbeat, in the heart of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, it is in an excellent area for walking – the North Yorks Moors steam railway stops at the village station on its journey from Pickering to Grosmont. Horse riding can also be found nearby.
Whitby being only 9 miles away is a picturesque seaport famous for its Captain Cook connections, where the cobbled streets and yards stand in the shadow of the Abbey, overlooking the harbour. The 3 miles of sandy beaches lead to the pretty coastal village of Sandsend. Robin Hood’s Bay (renowned as a bygone smugglers’ haunt), Runswick Bay and Staithes are all worth a visit. Inland, the moors are scattered with villages, many with excellent inns. Goathland itself offers an excellent choice of inns and restaurants, in addition to local shops, post office and cafés. Scarborough 23 miles. York 38 miles. Beach 9 miles. Pub and restaurant ½ mile.

Perfect for a large family gathering or celebration, Oswald House offers spacious and stylish accommodation for a splendid holiday. The vast kitchen and dining space is the social hub of the home and large bi-fold doors open up onto the outside space with a superb hot tub and barbecue; the ideal spot for relaxing in after a busy day sightseeing. Situated in the village of Llanon with a pub and shops within walking distance, this holiday home is the perfect base for immersing yourself in all that the area has to offer. With a superb mix of coast and countryside, Ceredigion is a large and beautiful place to visit. Award-winning beaches, perfect coves, iconic castles and pretty harbours make days out by car or on foot along the 60 miles of Heritage coastline a must. This region inspired Dylan Thomas to write some of his finest poetry. It is framed by the Cambrian Mountains, known as the backbone of Wales, and is so rich in wildlife, legends and fascinating landscapes. Look out for birds of prey such as red kites and buzzards soaring high above, and dolphins or seals in the waters. Drive along the Plynlimon Mountains, through the Tywi Forest or visit the impressive Abergwesyn Pass, and marvel at the solitude.

For a truly authentic Welsh family holiday experience, this is the area to be. The locals are justifiably proud of this region with its rich local folklore which tells of tricking the devil, mermaids, shipwrecked kings and princesses, and even an explanation of why gulls sound as if they’re crying. The little gems of Georgian Aberaeron, historic Cardigan, salty New Quay, traditional Tregaron and Lampeter are waiting to be explored. To the south, the coves of Mwnt, Cwmtydu, Penbryn, Tresaith – which resemble illustrations from books about pirates, are all within easy reach. To the north, around Aberystwyth and Borth, there are vast stretches of sand. Food plays a big part in the experience of Ceredigion, and a wide choice is to be found in the shops, restaurants and cafés offering regional products and ingredients such as the world beating Teifi Valley cheeses, the ubiquitous Welsh cakes, bara brith and of course, some spectacularly good seafood from the coast.

No visit to the area would be complete without a ride on the steam railway. From the coast at Aberystwyth, watch the scenery change whilst travelling through ancient woodland and rugged mountain scenery, with the line clinging to the hillside to reach Devil’s Bridge, home of the famous Mynach Falls and Devil’s Punchbowl. Come and escape to this magnificent area and let Oswald House be your home for a holiday to remember!
Beach ½ mile. Shop, pub and restaurant 600 yards. This property can be booked together with Ty Fynnon (HW7601) and Oswald Lodge (HW7804) to accommodate larger groups.

The Old Roundhouse is a unique escape in sumptuous accommodation, the perfect holiday retreat in genuine peace and tranquillity. This stunning, spacious, detached barn conversion with original roundhouse enjoys total seclusion within its own large gardens on the edge of the owner’s farm, with no near neighbours. Nestling in this designated AONB, uninterrupted and magnificent views of the surrounding countryside abound and lovely walks can be enjoyed from the property. A 10-minute walk over the owner’s fields and woods leads to Hartland village with shops, three pubs and a lovely coffee shop. Sandy Spekes beach is just over a mile walk. A fabulous, picturesque, hidden treasure, great for rockpooling and surfing. The owners have maintained many original features - exposed internal stone walls, beams and wonderful slate floors with underfloor heating throughout. Everything has been thought of to ensure an incredible holiday to please everyone. The Old Roundhouse is a really special holiday home and a warm welcome awaits with complimentary chilled beer and wine, cream teas, fresh flowers and toiletries - all ingredients for a well earned break. The stunning World Heritage coastline abounds with family activities, from pretty beaches to hidden coves, once the haunt of smugglers. Hartland Abbey is worth a visit, as is the famous Clovelly. Bude and Bideford are within easy reach with their shops, attractions and leisure pursuits. Shops ½ mile.

This gorgeous, semi-detached cottage, situated in the village of Llangattock, overlooking the River Usk, has been restored to a high standard with your comfort in mind. The ground floor of the property compromises a large kitchen and an open plan living/dining room with a wood burner. Upstairs you will find three lovingly furnished bedrooms, one with the added benefit of en-suite facilities, as well as a family bathroom. The outside of the property has an enclosed garden with lawned area, as well as a patio area complete with a private Jacuzzi. There is also a barbecue and for those who enjoy cooking there is a pizza oven. Adjacent to the garden you will find a garage to store bikes and any outdoor equipment. This is also used as a games room and features a table tennis table, pool table and dart board and two arcade games. There is a hot outdoor shower near the hot tub.
Honeycott lies within walking distance of the historic town of Crickhowell, named the 2019 ’best place to live in Wales’ by the Sunday Times, and also ’best high street in Britain’ 2018. There is an array of amenities there including boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants. For those who enjoy music festivals, Crickhowell is home to the Green Man during August. The town of Abergavenny is 6 miles away and there you will find some fine dining restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Walnut Tree Inn and The Hardwick Restaurant owned by chef Stephen Terry. The town is host to the annual food festival in September. Brecon is just 14 miles away from Honeycott and has lots of places of interest to visit such as the Welsh Regimental Museum and Brecon Cathedral, and it is also home to a jazz festival every August. For those wanting to explore the area on foot, Pen Y Fan, South Wales’ highest peak, offers great opportunities. Sugar Loaf Mountain also nearby and is the southernmost of the peaks in the Black Mountain Range. Whatever you decide to do whilst on your holiday, Honeycott will be sure to provide the perfect home from home feel. Shop ½ mile, pub and restaurant 200 yards.

Thatched Cottage is a spacious detached six bedroom property for 12 guests and is suitable for a large family or a group of friends. It is a beautifully furnished converted restaurant set within the town of Kingsteignton, 2 miles from Newton Abbot and 1 mile from Newton Abbot racecourse. Spend some time unwinding in the open plan living and dining area on the ground floor which is light, airy and has plenty of room and home comforts for everyone to spread out. Perfect for a relaxing evening indoors when you’re not out exploring the delights of the local area. Next door, the kitchen is well equipped to prepare a family dinner. It is perfect for socialising whilst cooking a home-cooked meal. From the living room three steps lead down to a separate games room area which houses a pool table, a bar with stools, a gaming fruit machine (which is free to use with no prizes), a dart board, a 40” Smart TV with Freeview and Netflix. Upstairs are 6 bedrooms each with a Freeview Smart TV with Netflix. The enclosed walled garden is great for pets and it features a 5-seater hot tub, a barbecue, 2 picnic benches on the lawn plus a small patio area with a bench, great for enjoying your morning coffee.

Kingsteignton has a choice of shops, pubs, a variety of eateries and sporting facilities, and the nearby towns and villages offer a variety of attractions. Nearby Newton Abbott can be reached from the doorstep along the walking and cycling path which takes you through the Hackney Marshes nature reserve. The ancient market town offers plenty of local shops, high street chains and supermarkets. There’s also a racecourse where National Hunt racing takes place from spring until autumn, with craft fairs during the winter.

There are a number of beaches within easy driving distance including Teignmouth, Torquay and Paignton, which also has a zoo. Spend a day on the beach building sand castles and walk the impressive Victorian Pier at Teignmouth. Enjoy the stunning beaches around Torquay and the many hidden coves such as Meadfoot, Oddicombe, and further afield, the pretty Ness Cove. And of course, the South West Coast Path provides stunning seascapes across the bay, with a popular stretch from Torquay Harbour to Daddyhole Plain.

The Dartmoor National Park is nearby with rugged and stunning scenery where you can enjoy walking, cycling, horse riding, climbing and canoeing. You can see the ponies, walk the Tors or simply stop off in one of the many villages for a Devon cream tea. For the children, there is Crealy Adventure Park or Go Ape in Haldon. There are many cycle ways off road, including Powderham Castle where there is a cycle track along the estuary. Other memorable days out include the Round Robin Bus Trip, Paignton Zoo, Woodlands Adventure Park, Babbacombe Model Village and Kents Cavern. Beach 3 miles. Shop and pub ¼ mile, restaurant 1 mile

This lovely, large detached property, situated next to a chicken farm, is just 4 miles from the town of Newtown yet sat in a rural location with great views of the rolling countryside. This property is an ideal base for groups of friends and large family gatherings. It comprises of an open plan kitchen/dining room which leads into a large conservatory, great for watching the wildlife in the area as it opens onto the large lawned garden and patio area, which hosts the private hot tub. The living room has a wood burner and again some fabulous views of the countryside. This room leads into the cinema room which boasts a 60" screen - great for movie nights! Upstairs there are four bedrooms, two doubles with en-suite facilities and two further twin bedrooms sharing a family bathroom. There is also a games room on the ground floor of the property. Plenty of walks can be had from the property so this is a great place for taking your four legged friends too. There is so much to do and see in the town of Newtown, with its array of shops, coffee shops and restaurants, and the coast is a short drive away. Shop, pub and restaurant 4 miles.

Ladysmith is a fabulous detached former farmhouse, superbly located within open countryside with uninterrupted views, yet close to the seaside resort of Hornsea and just outside the village of Brandesburton. It is situated in an idyllic rural location amidst agricultural land that grows a variety of crops. On a clear night it is possible to see the night sky in all its glory, due to the rural location there is very little light pollution. There are stunning views from every window in this very impressive holiday home, which offers comfortable and spacious accommodation for groups of friends or family wishing to make memories and enjoy some quality time together.

Ladysmith offers rural tranquillity in accommodation that offers space to relax with all the amenities and offers a well-equipped family kitchen, separate utility room and toilet. The dining room and living room has plenty of seating to accommodate everyone in the group. The addition of a family games room complete with pool table, dart board, books and games is the perfect place for some friendly rivalry on an evening after a long day exploring the local area of just a relaxing space for the younger members of the group to chill whilst the adults enjoy a glass of wine.

The first floor offers five bedrooms, each named after wildflowers you can find in the locality. Offering a mixture of family rooms that have both king size and twin beds, two of which have en-suite bathrooms. The race will be on to see who chooses Sulphur Cosmos, with its feature bath in the bedroom which overlooks miles of open countryside or the family room of Fairy Toadflax with feature sunroom and additional seating. The accommodation is completed with a shower room. Ladysmith offers enclosed gardens to the front, rear, and side of the property along with a large patio area, which is where you can find the hot tub.

The outside seating is ideally located to enjoy an al fresco breakfast or an area to sit with a coffee and a good book whilst watching your fellow house guests enjoy a game of football, cricket, or chess.

A short drive brings you to the village of Brandesburton where you can find a selection of pubs, restaurants, and convenience stores. A little further afield is the seaside town of Hornsea where you can stroll along the promenade or enjoy an afternoon building sandcastles. The stately homes of Sledmere House, Burton Agnes Hall and Sewerby Hall are close by along with the stunning rolling hills of the unspoilt Yorkshire Wolds. This stunning family home has something for everyone. Beach 9 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 3 miles.

This spacious, detached family home, nestled down a private lane, is situated on the owners working farm in the Radnorshire valley. It is a great place for families and friends to get together and has its own hot tub and games room. Set in the open countryside, with fabulous rolling views of the valley to be had from all angles of the property, it’s in an ideal location for those wanting to explore the countryside with Offa’s Dyke being just 15 minutes’ away, as well as other fabulous walks and cycle paths in the area.

After a long day of exploring the area, head back to Upper Close and dry off your four-legged friends with the dog towels found at the property, and tuck into some home made cake from the generous welcome pack provided. Sit back in the living room, complete with a wood burner, or make the most of the views and relax in the oak conservatory. There is also use of a lovely enclosed garden, great for letting your furry friends and children let off some steam. Shop 3½ miles, pub 2½ mile, restaurant 2 miles.
Upper Close (UK10873) can be booked together with Offa’s Dyke Lodge (UK10835), Red Kite Lodge (UK32610), Middle Hanter (UK37355) and Larchwood Lodge (UK42917) to accommodate up to 30 guests.