Best dog-friendly cottages in Wales
With three national parks ranging from rolling Brecon to rugged Snowdonia and the spectacular Pembrokeshire coast, Wales is an incredibly dog-friendly place. You’re not only spoilt for choice when it comes to tiring out legs and tails though, there are some great dog-friendly cottages in Wales to come home to. Here are some of our favourites from our collection of dog-friendly self-catering places in Wales, all personally inspected by us, so you know that you and your dog will have a great time away.
1. Ty Coch
Three gorgeous, self-contained, dog-friendly cottages in North Wales make up an amazing family space on a remote stretch of the coast south of Anglesey. The Dairy has the biggest kitchen, so you’ll all gather there, but you can also throw open doors and windows and let the day flow from garden, to beach, to starry nights round the firepit.
The hiking is incredible and will help you work up an appetite for the fantastic food. A nearby farm shop is a great place for produce and the Spar is surprisingly famous for its local seafood. There’s great fine dining if you want something fancy, with Michelin-starred Sospan, Marram Grass and Plas Dinas all recommended, or superb simple fare at the Ty Coch Inn, whose front door is right on the beach at Porthdinlaen.
2. Wild Meadow
A gorgeous eco build with a shepherd’s hut spare bedroom is the perfect place to get back to nature and immerse yourself in rugged countryside on the Wales-England border. The interior is bright and beautiful, the little balcony looks out over miles of fields and hills and the wonky wooden table in the meadow makes a simply perfect breakfast spot.
You’ll feel wonderfully wild as you pick straight from the orchard and the kitchen garden, but the independent shops and pubs of Presteigne are only a ten-minute walk away and famously foodie Ludlow is just round the corner. You could easily spend a few days out of civilisation though, with the Offa’s Dyke Path on your doorstep for great walks and plenty of bridleways, moorland and gardens to wander at your leisure.
3. Ty Glas
There’s a rough and tumble charm to this place, which makes it feel like coming home the moment you step through the door. Owners Neti and Hugo’s art hangs on the walls and they live in the barn opposite, so you can always wander over if you want to see more. The open fire and big leather armchairs invite afternoons of lounging and raiding the bookshelves, the balcony is a beautiful suntrap and trails lead off through the garden and down to the sea.
It’s not just the peaceful setting and cosy fireside that makes this one of our favourite dog-friendly cottages in Wales, it’s the chance to explore Pembrokeshire itself. There are hidden beaches everywhere that Neti and Hugo can point you to, the Pentre Ifan Neolithic site in Nevern that makes a great day out, quaint St. Davids just along the coast and even the bizarre Bug Farm nearby if you fancy a cricket burger.
4. Tan Y Coed
A big, bright contemporary space surrounded by adventures, some of which your dog can join you for, others perhaps not. They might love the hike up Cader Idris, the family animal puzzle trails or the Mawddach Estuary Trail – nine glorious miles of flat cycling/walking which crosses the historic Barmouth Railway Viaduct and ends at the beach. They might just have to watch others – the zip lining, underground trampolining and forest toboggans for example.
One thing that is totally dog-friendly is the cottage itself, with plenty of room for sprawling in the lounge and out in the courtyard garden. Humans will do alright as well, with floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the space with light and views, a serious range and BBQ for any keen cooks and a big bath to ease any issues arising from overenthusiastic trampolining and tobogganing.
5. Pont Faen
Wander down a leafy lane on the Wern Estate and you’ll find this beautiful, traditional and, more importantly, dog-friendly holiday cottage in Wales’ famous Snowdonia National Park. A pretty stream runs alongside the house, and at the back there’s a secret garden with inspiring views across a private lake to the surrounding hills of the Llyn Peninsula.
Walk to the beach at Black Rock Sands in 40 minutes, explore the nearby seaside towns of Criccieth and Porthmadog and have a fascinating day out at Portmeirion, designed in the style of an Italian village. There are a few other cottages on the estate as well, so you can get everyone together for a big reunion, but it’s a wonderful place to simply unwind and stroll from garden, to beach, to sofa.
Written by
Chris Elmes
Chris is our copywriter, who spins enticing articles out of rough notes and travel tales. Having grown up in rural Wiltshire with only cats, he defected to Team Dog and now roams the countryside with Porth, a gorgeous spaniel named after a Welsh town in what he considers to be a joke. They love disappearing into the hills and coming back hungry for a good pub meal, although Porth has not been convinced to follow Chris into vegetarianism.
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