Pet Concierge Picks

The Ravine is a contemporary and stylish annexe, boasting spacious open-plan living and a balcony with seating, perfect for enjoying views of the sea and surrounding countryside after a day exploring the beautiful landscape on one of the many coastal walks opposite. Just half an hour’s coast path walk leads to Bovisand, a beach designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You can also discover the sights of Wembury, a wildlife haven with nesting sea birds and an array of marine plants and animals. Shop 1 mile, pub 100 yards.

This delightfully situated, semi-detached, single-storey, holiday cottage has been renovated to a very good standard and is located within the national scenic area between Dumfries and Annan. The cottage is near Caerlaverock Castle and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. The county towns of Dumfries and Annan are a short drive away providing a wide range of shops and places of interest. The cottage makes an ideal base for exploring this wonderful area either by car, cycle or on foot, and the Mabie Forest mountain bike tracks are close by, whilst the scenic Caerlaverock Estate has a network of paths to enjoy close by. Close to excellent salmon fishing on the River Nith and wildfowling on the National Nature Reserve. There are several excellent golf courses in the area including the championship course at Southerness. There are wonderful views over the Solway Coast towards the Lake District.

This detached barn conversion, adjacent to the owner’s home, is located just outside the lovely conservation village of Fordyce, 1½ miles from the Moray coast. A magical place, the village is a warren of narrow streets and beautiful houses still following a medieval plan, and all wrapped around a magnificent centrepiece, Fordyce Castle, simply sitting on a bend in the village street. The holiday cottage is very spacious, comfortable and warm, and takes advantage of the panoramic views of both sea and countryside, with the arched French doors in the living room leading to a sunny sitting-out area at the front. Set within 1 acre of private grounds with dedicated guest outside area with garden furniture and BBQ available.

Fordyce also offers an attractive park opposite the old kirkyard as well as a Victorian garden. The sandy beach at Sandend is a quick drive or a 45-minute walk from the cottage, where local fish can be bought and surfers enjoy the waves. Good coastal walks abound through the old fishing villages of Portsoy and Cullen, or alternatively travel inland through castle and whisky country. There are plenty of golf courses in the vicinity, and the variety of bird and wildlife both onshore and off will please the keen nature lover. Shop, pub and restaurant 2½ miles.

Buttercup Lodge is a charming little lodge, ideal for couples, with uninterrupted views across open fields towards Warkworth Castle. Set in the owners’ grounds, this detached lodge with a large enclosed garden and secluded patio sitting-area with chimnea to the front, is a lovely spot to relax after a day’s exploring. In a peaceful location only 2 miles from Amble, it is an ideal base from which to explore the many visitor attractions throughout this friendly and unspoilt county. Amble, reputedly ’the friendliest port’, has a working harbour with boat trips to Coquet Island, a sandy beach and a bustling Sunday market with some excellent seafood eateries and fish and chip shops. A short drive takes you to the popular Druridge Bay Nature Resort. This ideally located holiday home offers a superb base from which to explore the magnificent Heritage Coast, designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Visit Craster, famous for its smoked kippers and glorious walk along the cliff-top to Dunstanburgh Castle. It is only a few miles from Alnwick, with its famous castle used in Harry Potter and in Downton Abbey. A great central base from which to explore the whole of this unspoilt county from Hadrian’s Wall to the National Park and back to the coast again. Shop, pub and restaurant 2 miles

Hazel Grove House is a wonderful Georgian residence, originally a farmhouse, which has benefited from extensive upgrading. Notable changes were made by a gentleman doctor owner in the 1840s, and full renovation by the current owner, who lives in an adjoining cottage, means that the property offers an excellent level of comfort and facilities. Spacious and well-presented living spaces provide families and groups the flexibility to spread out a little and utilise the space to their own requirements. The kitchen flows beautifully into the dining area, sure to be a hub for socialising and enjoying time shared around the table. The more formal drawing room is complemented by the cosy snug, complete with a decorative wood-burning stove for cosy evenings in, and the additional relaxation area on the top floor allows guests a separate TV or quiet area. The generous bedrooms are beautifully presented and benefit from bathroom facilities for each room. Guests will no doubt appreciate the convenience of such an arrangement when holidaying in larger numbers.
Whilst first impressions portray a grand country residence with a formal frontage, the charm of the original farmhouse remains, giving a homely and comfortable feel to this spacious property. Sitting in 2 acres and tucked away in countryside on the edge of the Lakes, this fabulous holiday property has a lot to offer families and groups of friends looking for a high standard of accommodation in a most convenient location.
The delightful formal gardens, with year-round interest, are a joy to wander around, being well stocked with a variety of colourful and scented plants. Nature lovers will delight in the regular visits to the gardens of the roe deer and fallow deer which inhabit the surrounding fields, as well as hedgehogs, frogs, toads, a green woodpecker, curlews, herons, pheasants and owls. A short drive away in the Silverdale and Arnside Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty you can explore the Leighton Moss RSPB Centre great for nature lovers.
Hazel Grove House offers an ideal location from which to explore a choice of popular destinations within a 30-minute drive, including The Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and the Forest of Bowland. The popular market towns of Kendal and Kirkby Lonsdale are both well worth a visit, offering a selection of cafés, bars and restaurants for all tastes and occasions, along with a good mix of independent traders and popular stores. For those drawn to the coast, the Kent Estuary and Morecambe Bay are within easy reach, and walkers and cyclists will enjoy the routes available for all abilities. Inland, Farleton Knott is a popular local attraction and visible from the gardens, and from here and neighbouring Hutton Roof Crags, the Lake District Fells across Morecambe Bay can be seen, as well as the Howgill Fells and Middleton Fells in the Yorkshire Dales, together with the moors of Bowland Forest. Farleton Knott has some of the best-preserved limestone pavements in Britain and is a designated SSSI. Beach 4 miles. Shop 500 yards, pub 1 mile, restaurant 2 miles.

Copingers Cottage takes its name from ’Cruel Copinger’, a notorious 18-century smuggler that once lived here. This delightful, spacious, semi-detached, ground floor cottage is the perfect romantic coastal retreat, nestled within an idyllic rural setting, just a mile from the coastal path. The cottage sits in a peaceful location at the head of the famous Spekes Valley with its majestic waterfall cascading down a shear rock face 60ft, through a series of four smaller falls before finally reaching the sea. There are beautiful views, countryside and walks from the doorstep with an abundance of birds and wildlife to be seen.

Copingers Cottage is beautifully presented and has a spacious living room and cosy wood burner to curl up beside on a cooler evening, along with a private patio to enjoy an al fresco supper on a summer evening. This pretty barn conversion sits within the Hartland Peninsula, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the North Devon coast with many dog friendly, long sandy beaches and hidden coves to explore, where occasionally dolphins can be seen frolicking in the Atlantic surf.

This is an ideal location for touring, walking, beaches or just relaxing. The timeless village of Hartland is only 1½ miles away and has a good selection of village shops and pubs serving food along with a post office, general store, bakery and craft shops. The hamlet of Stoke and the church of St. Nectan, known as the ’Cathedral of North Devon’, is just a short walk and the view from the church tower shows Hartland Abbey set in this beautiful valley with its many enchanting and delightful walks. Bude, 13 miles, has a good selection of shops and restaurants, many specialising in locally caught seafood, along with a golf course, indoor ’splash’ pool, surf schools and bowling. The delightful port town of Bideford, 15 miles, has a good selection of town amenities, restaurants, a weekly market and boat trips to Lundy Island. Coastal walking, cycling, golf, horse riding, fishing, surfing and sailing are all available in this stunning area. Docton Mill, Hartland Quay and Hartland Abbey are close by, along with many pretty fishing villages to explore including nearby Clovelly, Instow and Appledore. Beach 1½ miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 1½ miles.