Fido Family Friendly Places

This fabulous house is located in a development of stunning, contemporary homes, situated in a private 450-acre natural reserve. The gated and managed estate comprises woodland and meadows crossed by three rivers and surrounded by serene lakes. The property boasts a decked garden with regular sightings of coots, moorhens and swans. Guests can also enjoy the facilities at the estate’s ArtSpa (free use with ArtSpa passes), comprising indoor and outdoor heated pools (66ft 7in), eco-pool, sauna, steam room, gym, hard tennis court, nature trails, cycle tracks and treatments by arrangement. The Cotswolds Water Park offers a host of other activities and is part of an internationally famous nature reserve where a large variety of wildlife can be observed in total tranquillity. Other areas cater for water sports including sailing, jet skiing and fishing. The wonderful countryside of the Cotswolds surrounds the water park, and attractions such as Bath, Oxford, Cirencester and Cheltenham are all within easy reach. Shop, pub and restaurant ½ mile.

This imposing hall, yet completely unpretentious, welcomes larger families wanting to enjoy a relaxing holiday together. Reedham Old Hall dates back to 1775 filled with Georgian grandeur, nestled within gardens stretching to approximately 2 acres, having your very own outdoor heated swimming pool (seasonal opening middle May to September), extensive decking area with barbecue, garden kitchen, seating area, tennis court, perfect for competitive family tournaments.
Set over three storeys to include seven bedrooms, versatile reception rooms to offer plenty of space for the family to enjoy together, celebrate and dine in style, or slip away to quietly relax. There is a large kitchen with Aga and separate ovens and hob, perfect for preparing any family feast. History documents a house on the site since at least the Domesday Book, recording the Lordship was given to Richard De Reedham, a follower of William the Conqueror. Step into the reception hall having an impressive Georgian curved staircase. A formal dining room/music room with baby grand piano, wood floors, high ceilings, large dual aspect windows provide an abundance of light and garden views. The grandeur of the living room is the first thing to notice on entering, with wood floors, ornate fireplace and wood burner, large sash windows that frame the pretty church standing opposite, and French doors to garden. The kitchen/breakfast room offers plenty of space. Well-equipped offering plenty of worktop preparation area, cupboards, a breakfast bar, Butler sink, built-in electric double oven and hob, an Aga for relaxed cooking, and dining/breakfast area, perfect for informal dining, with feature fireplace and wood burner. The sweeping staircase leads to an impressive galleried landing with master double bedroom and en-suite bathroom, four more generous sized bedrooms and large family bathroom. Staircase leads to second floor landing, two further bedrooms, one with en-suite facility and games room.
Nestled in pretty countryside, 1-mile distant of the conservation village of Reedham, gateway to the Norfolk Broads National Park. Explore the miles of waterways, rich in wildlife, and fishing opportunities. Village of Reedham is located alongside River Yare, having a deli, local brewery, three welcoming public houses, serving food. Daily boat hire, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding hire and tuition available locally. The village train station offers service to city of Norwich, seaside resorts of Great Yarmouth, and Lowestoft. Reedham Chain Ferry offers vehicle, cycle, and pedestrian transport across the River Yare for easy access to Beccles and heritage Suffolk Coast. A short walk is Pettits Animal and Adventure Park. Village of Acle, 15 minutes’ drive, for supermarket, shops, café, vets, and pub. City of Norwich, 15 miles, for excellent shopping, two indoor shopping malls, market square, theatre, restaurants, cafés, pubs, galleries, cinema complex, cathedral, and castle museum. Great walking, cycling and bird watching available on doorstep. Seaside resorts of Gorleston on Sea and Great Yarmouth 30 minutes’ drive. Wroxham, the capital of the Norfolk Broads, for waterside restaurants, pubs, cafés, shops, daily boat hire and river trips. Excellent sandy beaches backed by dunes at Winterton on Sea, Horsey, and Waxham 35 minutes’ drive. Sandy beach 10 miles. Pubs and restaurants 1 mile.

Scarning Dale House is an elegant property occupying a peaceful and relaxing setting set amidst 25 acres of landscaped gardens with waterfall and pond, meadow and woodland with lake. Each of the holiday cottages is separately set within the grounds, although Lodge Cottage (B6008) is an annexe attached to The Lodge (B4013). Each has its own garden and seating area, ideal for couples and families alike. The grounds are abundant with nature and wildlife, with designated trails and pathways leading through meadow and woodland, offering excellent walking and bird watching opportunities direct from doorstep. Guests can enjoy a swim in the indoor heated swimming pool (by arrangement), table tennis and snooker room. Within easy reach of the magnificent North Norfolk coastline for wealth of sandy beaches, nature and RSPB reserves. The famous Norfolk Broads are within 40 minutes drive, with riverside restaurants, cafes, shops, daily boat hire and river trips available to explore the expanse of waterways abundant with bird and wildlife, with many picnic opportunities along waterside. Market town of East Dereham, 2½ miles, has weekly street market, shops, restaurants, cinema, swimming pool and golf course. Gressenhall Rural Life Museum and Union Farm, 3 miles, offers an interesting day out. Thetford Forrest Park with miles of walking and cycle trails to explore and ’Go-Ape’ adventure playground and assault course, 20 miles. Many places of interest and historical houses and sites surround the area, Houghton and Holkham Hall, the Royal Sandringham Estate and museum, Walsingham Shrine and Abbey ruins and Castle Acre and Priory ruins. Traditional seaside resort of Hunstanton, Wells Next The Sea, Sheringham and Cromer offer an array of attractions for all ages. Coastal Path and Peddars Way offer excellent walking and cycling opportunities. Great Witchingham Wildlife Park and Falconry and Dinosaur Park at Lenwade, approximately 12 miles.

This stylish two bedroomed lodge is perfect for families or small groups alike. The lounge is contemporary with a spacious seating area to relax it has a Smart TV with Netflix and DVD for entertainment. The dining area offers ample seating for four and adjoins the well equipped kitchen. To the rear of the lodge are two bedrooms, one a double and the other a twin. There is a bathroom with toilet, sink, shower cubicle and Heated towel rail. Outside there is a wonderful decking area with outdoor furniture and fabulous views out to sea and across Morecambe Bay. Here, you can enjoy a morning coffee or perhaps your favourite evening tipple.
Morecambe Bay is famous for it’s sunsets. The lodge is perfectly placed on a very popular holiday complex near Heysham. Located right on the seafront offering fantastic views of the stunning Irish Sea. Kids and adults are both well entertained with a range of activities, including a heated indoor pool, sauna, sports and leisure facilities, show bar, children’s entertainment, restaurant, beer garden, arcade, laundrette and small shop. Swim in the heated indoor pool or relax in the sauna while the kids can enjoy the indoor soft play and outdoor playground. After a day exploring, enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants or a drink in the brand new Sports Bar, the Show bar offers weekend entertainment. Please note: park facilities open ten months of the year (closed Dec & Jan.) Located a short distance from Morecambe a seaside resort with a sandy beach and long promenade. On the north end of the promenade, you can find Happy Mount Park, open all year round. A traditional park with an adventure playground, summer splash area, sports pitches, events and café On the southern end of the promenade there’s the Midland Hotel, an internationally renowned Art-Deco building designed by Oliver Hill and restored for the 21st Century. Non-Residents can enjoy sophisticated glamour, afternoon tea and classy cocktails here. For wetter days or evening entertainment, Morecambe’s Soul Bowl is located on Central Promenade with it’s ten bowling lanes with a restaurant and bar. If you wish to venture in the opposite direction, historic Lancaster is a short drive away. Lancaster Castle is a must see as is a visit to Willamson Park and Butterfly House.

Set in the heart of rolling Devon countryside, the privately owned Ashcombe country estate nestles in a quiet, beautiful valley filled with things to do and a short drive from the sandy beaches of Dawlish and Torquay. Enjoy walking around the estate’s hills and woodlands, swim in the heated indoor swimming pool, or relax in the sauna at Woodhouse Farm while children play on outdoor playground. Both The Cider Barn, a mile away and sleeping 16, and Nut Tree Farm, sleeping 28, have their own outdoor swimming pools for the summer.
The cottages are both comfortable and practical, with a wide range of Devon attractions right on the doorstep. All are maintained to very high standards with leather sofas, superfast Wi-Fi, flatscreen Smart TVs and very comfortable beds. Many retain original features, including oak beamed ceilings, and all have either Italian-tiled or wooden floors.
Sleeping from 4 to 22 people, and rated either 4 or 5 stars, the cottages can accommodate almost any party size, and an in-house chef (arranged direct with the owner) can be booked to take care of the catering.
The brilliant Ashcombe Adventure Centre for outdoor activities, is just under a mile down the lane. Available at extra cost for those 14 years and over, it offers quad bike safaris, clay pigeon shooting, archery, paintballing and more. Also located on the estate is ’A Touch of the Wild’, a camp-based forest activity club. Children can take part in bush-craft courses and activities ranging from camp fire cooking and toasting marshmallows to bug hunting and learning woodland skills - a day with the experienced staff will ensure youngsters come away with a new found love of the great outdoors. The Ashcombe Village Club opens on various evenings providing cheap beer in a cheerful atmosphere, event evenings, traditional summer fêtes and shows. Guests at Ashcombe can also enjoy foraged and wild walks that take place every Tuesday and last for around two hours. You can discover the simple pleasure of foraging from the abundance of wild foods in the Devon countryside, and also experience the perfect evening out dining under canopies in the Ashcombe Woodland at the Woodland Kitchen, open on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Both Dartmoor National Park and the historic city of Exeter are only a 20-minute drive away, while the famous South Devon Coast, with wonderful sandy beaches, is barely 3 miles. Exeter and Newton Abbot Racecourses, several golf courses, loads of family theme parks, zoos, sailing and fishing are all within easy reach, not to mention the many excellent pubs and restaurants that Devon is famous for. Walk in the wild beauty of Dartmoor with its abundance of wildlife and dramatic landscapes, or visit the numerous nearby National Trust properties including Agatha Christie’s house, Greenway. Steam trains travel from Kingswear to Paignton and Totnes to Buckfastleigh. Visit historic Dartmouth with bustling boat harbour, castle, contemporary art galleries and boutiques and brilliant Regatta Week and Air Show. Salcombe with its beaches, sailing and water sports is also easily accessible, as well as Blackpool Sands, Slapton and picturesque Dittisham. Slightly further afield, East Cornwall and the Eden Project are within an hour’s drive. Other activities of interest include Backwater Adventures to explore Devon’s rivers and countryside with professional guidance and supervision, or Rock Solid Coasteering to explore the Jurassic coastline.
All in all Ashcombe is an excellent base from which to explore, experience and enjoy ‘The Cream of Devon’. All big supermarkets deliver direct to your cottage. Main shops 3 miles.

A spacious farmhouse resting in Teigngrace near Newton Abbot, Devon. Pet-friendly. Smart TV. Character features. Teignmouth 6.5 miles; Shaldon 6.5 miles.

These purpose-built holiday cottages (refs 24574, 27255 and 27257) have been constructed or converted from the original farmhouse buildings and an old Welsh longhouse. Welsh craftsmanship at its best - only the finest local tradesmen and materials have been used for the conversion of these buildings. They are situated in an elevated position on the edge of Broadlay near Ferryside on the old pilgrim road to St David’s Cathedral.

There is generous amenity space, dog walking paths and a country adventure play area for small, accompanied children. The complex is on the local bus route which connects to Carmarthen via the hotel and Ferryside railway station. In the opposite direction, Kidwelly and Swansea are en route. Ferryside is uncommercialised, peaceful and quiet; the ideal getaway for a perfect weekend (or longer) break. It is also, due to its proximity to Carmarthen, Llanelli and other centres, an ideal corporate meeting place. Kidwelly, with its Norman castle, industrial heritage museum, Pembrey Country Park and Motorsport Centre, within approximately 10 minutes’ travelling time.

The National Botanical Gardens, Laugharne (famous for Dylan Thomas’ Boathouse) and many Pembrokeshire attractions are about half an hour’s drive. There are many places to visit including Dylan Thomas’ cottage, where he spent the last years of his life. The Millennium Coastal Cycle Path, part of the national cycle path network, meanders through approximately 20 miles of local coastline, passing through local areas of interest. Places to visit include Kidwelly Castle, the Penclawydd Wildfowl Centre, and the Loughor Estuary with views of the Mumbles Peninsula south of Swansea. Shop, pub and restaurant ½ mile.

Situated just 6 miles from Hunstanton on the North Norfolk coastline with its beautiful sandy beaches and a wealth of nature and bird reserves, this superb detached farmhouse is peacefully located in the village of Fring. Set in its own grounds with the benefit of an outdoor swimming pool, games room and tennis court as well as a large enclosed garden, White House Farm offers character and comfort. Furnished to offer superb holiday accommodation with views across the fields in all directions, White House Farm makes for an ideal holiday location for families and groups of friends. Burnham Market (8 miles) offers shops, butcher, baker, restaurants and inns. For nature lovers, excellent bird-watching can be enjoyed amid the nearby salt marshes and sand dunes, where good walking may also be found. Additionally, the coastal path and Peddars Way footpath also offers further routes for walkers. For lazy days by the sea, excellent sandy beaches can be found at Brancaster, Holkham and Wells-next-the-Sea, whilst the popular seaside resorts of Heacham and Hunstanton offer many attractions for all ages. Within easy driving distance are numerous historical ruins, stately homes and gardens including Sandringham House, Houghton and Holkham Halls, Walsingham Abbey and Shrine ruins. Shop, pub and restaurant 3 miles.

Glendale Cottage (ref W43490) and Glendale Mews (ref W43489) are the ideal spot for a relaxing and peaceful holiday in beautiful natural surroundings. There is an indoor, heated swimming pool which guests can hire for private use (at cost), and also the use of over 11 acres of natural woodland and grounds that form part of this beautiful location. The owners live on-site in the original period farmhouse, accessed via a driveway lined with rhododendrons through a small dense wood. There is a small wooded picnic and play area with a log cabin function room and a large charcoal BBQ, as well as another wooded area accommodating hens and a natural pond. There is access to a public footpath from the properties.
Located on the southern edge of the Northumberland National Park and inside the International Dark Skies Park, Glendale is easily found on the B6318 just north of Haltwhistle.
Perfect for guests who enjoy walking, rambling or cycling, these properties are within walking distance of Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site, and are situated centrally between Walltown Craggs and Cawfield’s picnic area, two of the most picturesque views along the wall. Just a little further along are the Roman remains and museums of Vindolanda and Housesteads as well as Steel Rigg, Sycamore Gap and the Visitor Centre at Once Brewed (The Sill), which offers charging, points for electric vehicles.
Many other activities are available locally, including birdwatching, horse riding, tennis, golf, fishing and open air swimming. Glendale is perfectly placed for easy access to many other historical Roman sites, forts and temples, the National Nature Reserves of Muckle Moss and Greenlee Lough, and the spectacular Kielder Forest and Reservoir offering a variety of sailing and water sports. Northumberland is a county of wild open spaces, unspoilt and breathtaking.
For those guests wishing to explore further afield, within an hour’s drive there is Carlisle, Gateway to Scotland and the Lake District, the historic town of Hexham, and fabulous shopping at the Metrocentre, Gateshead, as well as Newcastle city with its regenerated riverside, shopping, theatres and nightlife.
A pick up and drop off service is available from the rail station, and to or from Cawfields or the Roman Army Museum. Local shops, pub and restaurant 1½ miles.

Set on the owners’ non-working farm in Horbling village, this detached farmhouse, with its own swimming pool and hot tub, lies in the heart of the Fens, an ideal touring base for visiting the area’s wealth of historic attractions. Providing comfortable holiday accommodation for families, it retains many original features, including exposed woodwork, an ornate cornice in the dining room and a traditional farmhouse-style kitchen. There is a second sitting room, well-stocked library and video and DVD collection (including latest releases). There are also five family bathrooms, providing luxury towels for an added touch of comfort. Outside is a large, private, rear lawned garden with apple, pear, plum trees and gooseberries which guests are welcome to pick in season, and a large patio with garden furniture and barbecue. There is also the added bonus of a private hot tub. The fenlands make ideal walking and cycling country, an excellent way to view the landscape with its rich farmlands, huge skies and wonderful sunsets; walks can be enjoyed from the doorstep; facilities can be found nearby for golf, fishing or horse riding. Within easy driving distance are a wealth of interesting places, including the delightful old towns of Uppingham, Oakham and Stamford, full of beautiful stone buildings. On the edge of Stamford stands Burleigh House, one of England’s greatest Elizabethan houses. Nearby Spalding is an attractive, Dutch-influenced town and centre of the flower-bulb industry, where the Springfields show gardens and the annual flower festival in May are popular. Tattershall Castle (NT), Belton House and Coningsby, noted for its huge one-handed church clock, and the home of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. One of the landmarks of the Fens is the octagonal lantern tower of St Botolph’s Church in Boston. Shop and good pub with food ½ mile in Billingborough, or village pub 300 yards.