Fido Family Friendly Places

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.

This wonderful detached property, with its own hot tub in a private garden, enjoys a quiet setting, yet it is only 1½ miles from the lively centre of Aviemore. Providing guests with an unforgettable holiday experience, Birch Corner offers spacious and beautifully presented holiday accommodation with your every need having been thought of.
Aviemore nestles in the heart of The Cairngorms National Park at the head of the Speyside Way and boasts a wonderful range of shops, restaurants and bars. The area also offers a very wide range of outdoor activities including skiing, snowboarding, mountain and quad biking, zip lining, climbing, hill walking plus a variety of watersports on nearby Loch Insh, Loch Morlich and the River Spey, to name just a few of the myriad of activities available. Take a trip on the Cairngorm Mountain Railway, visit the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, Landmark Centre in nearby Carrbridge or take a trip to the Highland Wildlife Park at nearby Kingussie, all of which are within easy reach. About 12 miles from Kingussie, lies the Ardverikie Estate, which has been the setting for films including the BBC TV’s drama series ’Monarch of the Glen’, as well as the location for movies such as ’The Missionary’ and ’Mrs Brown’.
Another visitor attraction for all the family to enjoy, not far from Kingussie, is the Highland Folk Museum, which offers an insight into Highland life in a living history setting. All in all, this is a fantastic base for exploring the many delights that this area has to offer, and there is so much to see and do for all ages. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.

This semi-detached cottage comes fully equipped with a private hot tub. Surrounded by the undulating Suffolk hills, this is a truly special property. The open-plan living area boasts a warm and snug environment which makes for a great social space. The master bedroom comes with an en-suite toilet, and the twin room has an additional pull-out bed, so there’s room for the whole family. With the property all on one level, it’s ideal for wheelchair access too. As well as enjoying your own privacy, with a private entrance, garden and patio area, guests can also take full advantage of the farm’s features, like visiting the goats, sheep, horses and cattle. Beach 16 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 3 miles.

Brambles Cottage is a beautifully appointed, one-bedroom cottage nestled alongside the owner’s house but with a private front door, garden and parking space and delightful rural views. There is a fantastic private hot tub in the garden for you to enjoy! The tasteful decor enhances the bright and airy feel and with underfloor heating, you can be sure this property is cosy and warm all year round. Dog friendly, Brambles Cottage is an ideal base to explore this stunning area of Cornwall. Although attached to the owners house, you’re completely private. A garden summerhouse with 360 degree glass so you can have a sunny breakfast or sunset drink even if it’s cool or windy. Together with the hot tub this enables you to enjoy the outdoors to the full on your holiday. New for 2024 is a high quality kitchen with all appliances and granite worktops.
There is a huge amount to do on the Lizard, from exploring the little fishing villages, Porthallow, Cadgwith or Coverack and sampling the local wealth of pubs and restaurants. Glorious clifftop walks, such as The Lizard itself, stunning sandy beaches like Coverack, Kennack Sands, Kynance Cove (which should be experienced), Poldhu or Loe Bar, which stretches from Gunwalloe all the way to Porthleven, tourist locations like Flambards, Poldark Mine or Goonhilly. The Helford River is beautiful and is surrounded by five little creeks, the most famous being Frenchman’s Creek, the eponymous title by Daphne Du Maurier based on the love affair between an impulsive English lady and a French pirate.
There are some breath-taking coastal walks, which really should include a trip around the Lizard Lighthouse, Britain’s most southerly point, on a clear, windy day there cannot be many more dramatic places in the country, the Lizard point is famous for shipwrecks and from May to October the Cornish coast is carpeted with a variety of colourful wildflowers. At the heart of the Lizard stands a 13th-century church, famous for its ornate woodwork decorating the end of each pew and depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament. Kynance Cove is a tidal beach for the adventurous, famous for its white sand, turquoise sea and rock stacks. Poldhu Cove, also known as Black Pool Cove, is a lovely west-facing sandy beach suitable for lots of fun activities, from building sandcastles to beach volleyball and rocks to explore at low tide and great for swimming, surfing and windsurfing. Beach 4 miles.

Situated in a peaceful location, Cwm Hyfryd is aptly name as it translates to ’delightful valley’. This spectacular, detached barn conversion, accessed by a farm track, has been cleverly planned to take advantage of the views as the living accommodation is on the first floor and opens out on to a balcony with table and chairs, the perfect spot for enjoying a morning coffee or an evening glass of wine.
The interior of the barn is spacious and well-presented. With four bedrooms and four bathrooms, it provides ample space for families or friends to spread out, and the open plan living space offers a sociable place to gather.
Step outside and you have a garden to enjoy, simply discover the many lanes and footpaths nearby. The small village of Cross Inn offers a pub and a village store. The nearest pretty secluded cove and beach at Cwmtydu can be reached within 3 miles, renowned for legends of smugglers and pirates, and where today, seals come to have their pups in early autumn. The unspoilt Ceredigion Coastal Path takes you over cliffs and through ancient woodland. The paths offer excellent walking opportunities and connect all the local beaches, many of which are dog friendly all year round if you are bringing your four-legged friend.
Delightful New Quay is also 2¼ miles away with its picturesque houses, pubs and restaurants. The town clings to the side of the hills rising above the blue waters of Cardigan Bay. It’s easy to understand why this area was such an inspiration to poet Dylan Thomas when he lived here. Often bottlenose dolphins can be spotted, and in season, dolphin survey boat trips are available from the sheltered harbour, or you can just enjoy the sandy beach, have an ice cream or fish and chips and watch the boats bobbing about.
Visit the colourful Georgian harbour town of Aberaeron, the ancient town of Cardigan with its castle, or Aberystwyth with its promenade and pier, home to the world’s longest working electric cliff railway.
Award-winning beaches and iconic harbours, delightful towns and villages all framed by the Cambrian Mountains, the backbone of Wales, make Ceredigion a wonderful place to visit, and this lovely barn could be your holiday home whilst you explore all that this beautiful part of Wales has to offer. Shop, pub and restaurant ¾ mile.

Within the North York Moors National Park, in a sheltered wooded valley close to the magnificent ruins of Rievaulx Abbey, these spacious, comfortable and well-equipped holiday cottages: Foxglove Cottage (ref W43183), Bridge Cottage (ref W43184) and Rievaulx Cottage (ref W43185) stand in a landscaped courtyard, close to the owner’s farmhouse. Enjoy farmhouse breakfasts at Laskill Grange, or across the drive at Laskill Country House, the owners’ daughter offers home cooked evening meals or ready prepared frozen meals. There are 70 acres of beautifully tended grounds and a shared terrace garden with its small lake and river frontage.
The surrounding countryside views are superb, and there is excellent walking from the doorstep. Long distance footpaths along this area’s Heritage coastline, and the Cleveland Way, offer perfect terrain for walkers and cyclists. Visit Ryedale Folk Museum and Rosedale Abbey, or for a day out, try the North York Moors Railway. Whitby has miles of sandy beaches and an ancient abbey overlooking its harbour. Scarborough, Staithes, Runswick Bay and Sandsend are within 20 miles. Horse racing at Thirsk, Wetherby and York, 25 miles. Helmsley has Duncombe Park and a castle. Shop and restaurant 2 miles, pub 6 miles.
Foxglove Cottage (ref W43183), Bridge Cottage (ref W43184) and Rievaulx Cottage (ref W43185) can be booked together to accommodate up to 6 guests.

Maesydderwen, meaning oak field, started life as a working farm and later became a country inn, but is now a collection of delightful holiday cottages, beautifully situated within the living landscape of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The charming market town of Llandeilo, with chic shops and an array of good restaurants, cafes and pubs, is just over three miles away. This holiday property has CCTV and has been renovated by the owners who live on-site, and boasts a fantastic hot tub and comfortable accommodation ideal for families, friends or couples. The property has been awarded Bronze in the Carmarthenshire Tourism Awards for self catering accommodation of the year 2018/2019 (3 units or more). There is an abundance of wildlife to see and enjoy from the grounds including woodpecker, siskin, marsh tit, goldfinch, nuthatch and wild roe deer. Red kites can also often be seen soaring overhead and there is a feeding station a 20-minute drive away. You can leave the car behind and enjoy wonderful walks directly from the cottage. If you can drag yourself away from Maesydderwen, there are the beautiful castles of Carreg Cennen and Dinefwr nearby, and the dammed lake of Llyn Y Fan Fach at the western border of the Black Mountains. The National Botanic Garden of Wales, 11 miles, with its great glasshouse dome at its centre, is a year round attraction, and within the Brecon Beacons National Park there are masses of paths and trails for walkers, runners, cyclists, mountain bikers, golfers, horse riders and wildlife watchers. Adrenaline sports such as paragliding, canoeing, rafting and abseiling can also be organised within the national park. Fishing is available in the nearby Towy Valley. Beach 30 miles. Shop and pub 3 miles, restaurant 3¾ miles.
Owl Cottage can be booked together with Kite Cottage (CC632040), Robin Cottage (CC632042), Wren Cottage (CC632043), The Lodge (CC632044), Kingfisher (UK6278) and Siskin Cottage to accommodate up to 37 guests.

This lovely 1900s barn was formerly a cow shed and milking parlour, and has been converted to a high standard with luxury fixtures and fittings. It is situated on a working beef and sheep farm with a pedigree Hereford suckler herds, sheep and goats and lies adjacent to the owners’ home. This semi-detached property is all one level and has a family bathroom, a double bedroom with en-suite facilities and a twin bedroom. The corridor leads to an open plan living space and the fabulous fitted kitchen has all the necessary appliances you could need. There is also a lovely breakfast bar for you to enjoy your meals whilst looking at the open countryside through the patio doors. The living area has a wood burner, ideal for keeping you cosy on those colder evenings, and patio doors lead out to a patio area and the garden, great for exercising the dogs, and children. After a long walk, imagine relaxing in the private hot tub just looking out onto the rolling green hills – perfect!
Ammanford itself has a coffee roastery serving fantastic coffee as well as breakfasts. There is also a large selection of shops, supermarkets and local pubs, some serving good food and with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and castles. Pantyffynnon station is within walking distance of the property on Heart of Wales line to Shrewsbury or Cardiff in the other
direction.
There is also plenty to do in the area, with the beaches of Gower approximately 18 miles. The lovely old market town of Llandeilo, situated on the River Towy, is just 6 miles away with boutiques and galleries, and hosts various festivals throughout the year, including the Jazz Festival and the Gin Festival. For those wanting to explore the local countryside, there are plenty of walks from the property and some great biking trails. Beach 12¾ miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 1½ miles.

The Cider Barn is decorated and furnished to a very high standard by the owners who have years of experience in the hospitality industry, and the attention to detail is evident in every room.
Downstairs is a fabulous open plan living space, with wonderful Bi-folding doors that open to allow the outside in and giving you great views over the Blackdown hills. The kitchen is well-equipped with everything you need and the island unit opens it up to the rest of the room, so you can socialise while creating your next culinary masterpiece! The large Master bedroom on the ground floor has a stunning four-poster bed and en-suite bathroom with roll-top bath and separate shower, while upstairs the second large bedroom features a wonderful kingsize bespoke bed, beautiful beamed vaulted ceiling and statement lighting. There is also a shower room upstairs with walk-in shower.
Outside you will find a Mediterranean style covered seating area complete with its own chandelier, barbecue area and private hot tub, all soaking up the wonderful views!
Set in the lovely village of Bishopswood, with the Somerset Wildlife Trust running adjacent to the property, you are only 5-minutes’ walk from the local pub and surrounded by miles of beautiful walks. The market town of Honiton is just 10 miles away and the beach at Lyme Regis can be reached within a 30-minute drive. Heading north, you will find the county town of Taunton with lots of restaurants, cinema, bowling and shopping, and within an hour’s drive you will find Glastonbury, Street, Minehead and the moors of Exmoor! Beach 18 miles. Shop 3 miles, pub and restaurant 250 yards.

Located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at the foot of Beacon Fell, this wonderful holiday cottage boasts spectacular views over the stunning surrounding countryside from both the open plan living space and all-important hot tub.

Full of character throughout once you enter Woodpecker Cottage, you’ll immediately notice the double height beamed vaulted ceiling, and spiral stairs that lead to a mezzanine bedroom. Quite uniquely within the bedroom itself includes an en-suite shower discreetly hidden behind a frosted screen. You’ll also enjoy fabulous luxury touches such as underfloor heating to the lower level, a wood burner for cosy winter evenings and externally the spacious hot tub is set beneath a superb wooden gazebo meaning you can relax and recoup no matter what the weather. Patio doors open from the open plan living space onto the spacious patio which overlooks a lake and beautiful countryside as far as the eye can see.

Located in the tiny hamlet of Whitechapel, a stone’s throw from not one but two award winning gin distilleries, one a gin school, one has a quirky gin distillery where you can call in for tastings and a cake. There’s also a local pub with great food within walking distance. The surrounding area is full of charming villages which also provide a good selection of quality restaurants, quaint tea rooms, shops and traditional pubs to accommodate most taste.

The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers 312 square miles and you’ll find the landscape has immense diversity with spectacular woodland, moorland and farmland to explore. You’ll find ample paths and lanes to follow direct from the door and many closer by including the popular Nicky Nook and Grizedale Valley. The summit of Beacon Fell is 266 metres above sea level and as you’d imagine offers spectacular views over the Forest of Bowland and Morecambe Bay, and on a clear day it’s even possible to see the Isle of Man. Lancaster, the Yorkshire Dales, Cumbria and the Lake District are all within easy reach for days out, and finally if you fancy a change of scenery, the Fylde Coast and popular resorts of Blackpool and Lytham St Annes.