There’s no need to leave your dog at home when you fancy a luxury holiday. With a third of UK households now owning a dog, Britain’s tourism industry has flung open its doors to our furry friends, with a plethora of dog-friendly accommodation, attractions, activities and eateries across the country. And you don’t have to ditch your desire for a designer pad with a hot tub and all the trimmings – here are some of the UK’s most luxurious holiday homes where your dog can stay too, handpicked by the experts at Dog Friendly Retreats.
Clifftop Edwardian pile for large gatherings by the beach in Sussex
Gather your friends and family for a group holiday at the magnificent Latimer House in Felixstowe. Up to 16 guests and three dogs can make themselves at home in this luxurious property boasting panoramic ocean views, an indoor pool, sauna, snooker room and movie room. Your four-legged friends can frolic in the sea-view gardens between coastal walkies and strolls along the prom, and kids can let off steam in the outdoor play zone while you recline on the decking with a tipple. Back inside nothing has been spared in the lavish design, with plenty of space to retreat or come together, and lots of opportunities to soak up the coastal panoramas from the dining table, king-size beds, chaise longues or freestanding baths.
17th century Lake District cottage for outdoor lovers
Whether you want to tackle the Lake District’s peaks, try paddle boarding with your hound, or hop aboard a dog-friendly cruise, lap up the wow factor of the destination that Wordsworth dubbed the ‘loveliest spot that man hath ever found’, from a large, luxury retreat in Coniston. There’s plenty of space for up to 12 guests and a dog to gather between adventures, with sliding doors that open to a wrap-around terrace, and a designer interior endowed with every modern comfort, including locally quarried slate worktops from the Old Man of Coniston itself. After a day in the great outdoors kick off your walking boots and flop by the woodburner or fire pit, or soak in the hot tub and gaze out to the lakeland scenery and starry skies.
Family retreat for mountain adventures in Aviemore, Scotland
The Scottish Highlands is a fantastic location for mountain biking, walking trails and all sorts of dog-friendly and family-friendly adventures. Hunker down in the stylish and luxurious Strathspey Lodge in the heart of the Cairngorms, and you’ve got forest, lake and mountain trails galore on the doorstep, as well as an array of activities from climbing to horse riding. Families and groups of up to eight and two dogs will love the base of this designer, glass-fronted retreat bedecked in bespoke furnishings and local artwork. Soak up the scenery and make the most of open-plan living, a woodburner, a family room, table tennis, badminton, a balcony and sprawling gardens with a burbling stream.
Luxury cottage life a pebble’s throw from the sea in Northumberland
Explore the glorious Northumberland coastline with your dog at your heels and come home to the award-winning Honeybee Cottage in the village of Warkworth. Sink into the regal lifestyle and gaze out to the 14th-century castle or the River Coquet, whilst surrounded by plush furnishings, an inglenook fireplace and traditional character dripping in high-end features. With plenty of comfort for four guests and a dog, you may be tempted to pad around your luxury cottage in a fluffy robe, but make sure you get out and explore the nearby beaches and the hills of Northumberland National Park.
Luxury coastal living beside the surf in Cornwall
Snuggle up in a five-star gold-rated property overlooking the surfing mecca of Porthleven. In keeping with the upmarket coastal style of the destination it overlooks, Fair View is decked out in cool coastal hues and decor, with New England-style shutters, a wood-burning stove and a magnificent loft room where you can check the surf and watch storms scud in over the horizon. The perfect pad for a family of four and a dog, from here you can head out along the South West Coast Path to Loe Bar and the Penrose Estate, hit the waves of one the UK’s best reef breaks, and tuck into bounty plucked from the land and sea in some of Porthleven’s foodie gems.
Dog Friendly Retreats offers a handpicked collection of luxury holiday cottages where you can spoil yourself and your four-legged friends in some of the most stunning locations across the UK.
All imagery unless stated otherwise credit: Dog Friendly Retreats
