Dog-friendly European Escapes

Lying within the New Forest, where open heaths, wild ponies and miles of footpaths stretch from the door, this detached, 19th-century holiday cottage forms part of the outbuildings to a country house. Comfortably converted with a simple country style, it enjoys a conservatory and a private, enclosed garden. With Bournemouth’s sandy beach, Salisbury, the New Forest Lakes, riding and golf all nearby. Shops 2 miles, pub serving food 2 miles.

Enjoying a wonderfully peaceful, scenic and rural location, surrounded by fields where horses graze, this delightful, detached, Grade II listed cottage is accessed via a long gravel driveway, set back from a country lane, yet only 10 minutes drive to Lymington or 5 minutes to Brockenhurst. The popular local pub serving fine fayre is within ½-mile via a footpath or ¾-mile by road. Pond Cottage has been lovingly and carefully restored, offering tastefully styled accommodation yet retaining some superb features. The highlight of this super property is the wonderful kitchen/dining room with underfloor heating and a suspended mirrored light from the apex. French doors lead from here onto a patio terrace which leads to the enclosed gardens, where plentiful wildlife including deer, pheasants and many birds can be seen. Contrary to the name of the cottage, there are no ponds in the property’s own fenced grounds, however there is a large pond in the grounds of the next door property.

Ideal for families and couples, there is a double bedroom on the ground floor with a ‘Jack ‘n’ Jill’ shower room, and three further bedrooms on the first floor, one 5ft double with TV, one double and one single with a pull-out bed. There is a shower over bath on the first floor, plus an additional toilet in the ground floor utility - the cottage sleeps 8.

The ever-popular New Forest is part of the National Park, and is a haven for ponies. Extensive walks, cycling and riding routes cross the heathland. There is plenty to do in the area for all ages, all year round. Nearby Brockenhurst has ‘best in county bakers’, plus cycle hire, shop/post office and pubs/restaurants.

The popular sailing town of Lymington is only 10 minutes drive, with its pretty harbour, cobbled pedestrianised streets, boutiques, eateries and pubs, and ferries to the Isle of Wight. Other places of interest include Beaulieu Motor Museum, Buckler’s Hard, Marwell Zoo, Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park, New Forest Owl and Otter Park and Southampton with its maritime history, to name but a few! Shops 2 miles, pub/restaurant ½ mile.

Just 4 miles from the North Norfolk coast with sandy beaches, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds sanctuaries, nature reserves and coastal path, this beautiful detached cottage is full of charm and character offering ‘upside down’ style accommodation. It is within walking distance of the fish and chip shop, village shop and post office, and pub. Bustling Burnham Market offers shops and excellent restaurants. Blakeney Quay and Morston for boat trips to the seal colony and Blakeney Point island. Beautiful sandy beaches at Brancaster, Hunstanton, Holkham and Wells. Places to visit include Norfolk Lavender at Heacham, Royal Sandringham Estate and museum, Houghton Hall and Holkham Hall. Fakenham, 10 miles, for horse racing, shopping centre, cafés and restaurants. Norwich, 1 hour’s drive, for theatre, castle museum, cathedral, shopping complexes, restaurants, pubs and cafes. Sailing at Burnham Overy and Brancaster Staithe. As well as Wi-Fi at the house, there is free Wi-Fi access available at local pubs. Championship golf course at Brancaster. There is on road parking usually available alongside the property in the quiet lane. Shop ¼ mile, pub 1 mile.

Tucked away alongside the unspoilt salt marshes of the North Norfolk coastal landscape, a listed site of Outstanding Natural Beauty with views of Cley windmill and village. This wonderful, detached, single-storey brick and flint cottage is full of character and charm, and is situated down a private road, located off the coastal road on the edge of the village of Cley next the Sea. Comfortably furnished, this holiday cottage boasts a woodburner, wooden floors, beams and an enclosed rear garden. Excellent bird watching opportunities, walking and cycling can be found direct from the doorstep. The property is pet friendly, with an enclosed garden. Cley next the Sea, ½ mile, has a shingle beach which can be accessed by footpath, and an eco-friendly visitor centre containing a cafe, shop and information centre for birds and wildlife of the salt marshes. An award-winning deli, cafes, art galleries, a pub, smoked fish house and windmill are within easy reach. Blakeney Quay is a 10-minute walk or a 2-minute drive away. Beach ½ mile. Shop, pub and restaurant ¼ mile.

This 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.

Nestling 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.

Lock 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 ¼mile.

A 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. Shops 3/4 mile.

Offering far-reaching views over fields and surrounding countryside, this compact, detached, single-storey holiday property offers superb walks from the door across miles of countryside. Standing next to the owners’ home on an unadopted lane on the edge of the charming village of Niton, a 10-minute walk, with a church, local shops, post office, library, chemist, hardware/gift/pet supplies shop, a GP centre and a pub serving food. The island is renowned for ramblers and has a 500-mile network of footpaths, including a 68-mile coastal walk with spectacular views. The nearest beach is a 10-minute drive, an observatory and St. Catherine’s Lighthouse are also nearby. Water sports, cycling, riding, sailing, fishing and golf can be found on the island. Blackgang Chine Theme Park is ¾ mile. Shop, pub and restaurant ¼ mile.