How many dogs can we typically bring?
The answer to this varies depending on the property. You’ll often find a limit of two dogs in houses where the owners are cautious of pets. For those more comfortable, you might be able to bring three to four dogs with you. Some farms or very rural estates don’t impose a limit on the number of dogs you can bring. From experience, we highly recommend that groups travelling with 6 or more dogs contact properties directly.
To make your trip go without a hitch, be sure to declare all dogs when making your booking. Surprising owners with extra pets risks losing deposits or immediate eviction.
What pet charges should we expect?
Pet fees vary widely. In our experience, about 30% of properties charge nothing at all. More common is a charge of around £25 to £50 per dog per stay, amounting to around £50 to £100 for multiple dogs. Some properties also require pet deposits of about £100 to £200. These are fully refundable if no damage is done during your stay.
For the lowest fees or no fees at all, focus your search on properties in Wales and Scotland. Properties in premium tourist areas tend to charge more. For the sake of budgeting, allow £50 per dog and you should be covered.
Are there restrictions on where dogs can go in houses?
Some more relaxed properties allow dogs everywhere; others confine our furry friends to specific rooms. Most pet-friendly properties allow dogs throughout the ground floor but restrict upper floors and bedrooms. This keeps pet hair manageable for cleanup, reducing extra cleaning fees. You will probably be asked to keep dogs off furniture (especially sofas and beds) and out of certain rooms such as formal dining rooms and rooms with valuable furnishings.
Our advice for making your pet-friendly stay go perfectly? Discuss the rules when you book and share them with your group to protect any deposits you’ve paid. This will ensure you and Otto are both invited back for the reunion trip next year.
What about beaches and walking areas?
The joy of a pet-friendly property is that you usually have areas of stunning natural beauty to explore right from your front door. In particular, Wales, Scotland, and the Lake District have excellent dog-walking terrain. Properties near coastal paths or moorland deliver the best dog experiences.
That said, it’s worth keeping in mind that some areas come with restrictions for our four-legged friends.
Many UK beaches ban dogs from April to September between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm to protect summer tourists. Check the rules of the beach before you hit the sand. If you’re visiting off-season (October to March), you and your dog will likely be welcome.
If you’re nearby any National Parks or just the general countryside, these are generally dog friendly. However, do keep in mind that UK lambing season runs from March to May so keep dogs on leads to avoid worrying the animals. As a rule, you want to keep pets on leads whenever you’re passing near livestock to keep interactions to a minimum.
Before you get your wellies on, check for local restrictions or have a chat to your host to understand where you’ll be welcome and where you may need to tread more carefully or steer clear entirely.