Six best dog-friendly cottages in Northumberland
With gorgeous open countryside so full of potential for outdoor adventure, it’s no surprise that there are some great dog-friendly cottages in Northumberland. Here are a few of our favourites, where you can step straight out onto trails for massive hikes, stroll round manicured gardens or splash through rivers, before coming home to a big fireplace or a cosy lounge where you can stretch out and nap.
1. Leyland Barn Kidlandlee
The stunning hilltop setting and beautiful isolation of this barn make it easily one of our favourite dog-friendly cottages in Northumberland. Owners Matthew and Terri have kitted out this and the other converted farm buildings next to it with smooth, white contemporary style. The welcome hamper will introduce you to great local flavours and the bbq will let you cook under huge skies sparkling with unspoilt starscapes.
Around you is a vast, wild natural playground. It’s four miles to the nearest village and fourteen to the nearest shop, so you can hike all day without seeing another soul, or canoe on the lake in total peace. If you feel the need for a bit of civilisation, head over to Alnwick and visit the legendary Barter Books, also dog friendly, built in the old train station.
2. Mullins
This old worker’s cottage is a homely space at the entrance to a grand estate in the Coquet valley. The medieval priory is nearby and you can stroll down to the river, through the woods and even to the old Brinkburn fort, to picnic in front of views of the Cheviot Hills before you come back to light the wood burner and sink onto the sofa.
While the walks alone make it one of our favourite dog-friendly holiday cottages in Northumberland, the food is a definite draw as well. Over on the coast you can walk the deep dunes and sandy beaches at Embleton, before picking up kippers from Robson’s in Craster, while closer to home there’s The Angler’s Arms at Weldon Bridge and the unmissably delicious and huge bacon sandwiches served by The Running Fox in Long Framlington.
3. West Cottage Southlands Farm
On an idyllic farm in one of Northumberland’s many sweeps of rolling hills, lies a little row of houses surrounded by an orchard. West Cottage, right in the middle, is a light, inviting space from which you can stroll among the trees, meet the goats, pigs and ponies, or pick up freshly laid eggs from the hens.
Once you’ve raided the welcome hamper and said hello to everyone, choose from the many local trails and strike out across the hills, or at least across the fields to The Feathers Inn, which uses the farm’s own beef on its superb menu. Alternatively, stay in and raid the honesty freezer for homecooked meals, or light the BBQ and dine outside under the apple trees.
4. Brunton House & Cottages
This little clutch of cottages has been styled with a beautiful mix of colour and classic country charm and filled with everything you could possibly need for an unparalleled family adventure. There’s a games room with a pool table and various other entertainments, plenty of snug spaces to sprawl in and a lovely dining room for long, sociable mealtimes.
If you can tear yourself away from this incredible, luxury dog-friendly cottage in Northumberland, then there’s a hikes along Hadrian’s Wall and through the Northumberland National Park on your doorstep, as well as day trips across the causeway to Holy Island or boat trips to the Farne Islands. There are famous gardens at Craigside and Alnwick as well as the more modest and intimate Mindrum and the arboretum at Howick, all perfect for idle wanderings and a bit of stick throwing with your dog.
5. Capheaton Hall – West Wing
Calling this a dog-friendly cottage might be slightly downplaying the grandeur of the place, but it does have the feeling of a family home – no surprise seeing it’s been owned by the Swinburnes for 700 years or so. After loving restoration in the 60s, it’s now a welcoming spot where you can wander the grounds of the walled garden and talk in lordly fashion of being resident in the west wing.
This is a pretty remote place, so stock up while you’re out unless you plan on making the short trip to the pub for dinner. The Badger, fifteen minutes away, is a classic local, but at the end of the drive you’ll find something a bit more unusual – the village hall that opens as a weekend tearoom and as a bar on Thursdays. Time it right and it makes an interesting end to a day of stomping round Kielder Water or through the woods of the estate.
6. Bottle Cottage
Views from every window, giant armchairs by the wood burner and the historic feel of stone and beams make this the perfect dog-friendly cottage for exploring Northumberland. Owners Lorraine and Paul will have the place prepped for you – fires ready to light, local hamper to be sampled and pointers on getting the most of the surrounding area.
Enjoy a night-time stargazing visit to Kielder Observatory or walk Windy Gyle and Border Ridge, taking in 10 miles of the Pennine Way and climbing to stunning views all the way into Scotland. For a less strenuous walk, head straight from the front door to the Drake Stone, then take a detour on the way home to The Rose & Thistle in Alwinton where you’ll find the local Hepple Gin, made a few miles down the road.
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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