Dreaming of a coastal escape where your dog is just as welcome as you are? These dog-friendly seaside stays in North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Northumberland offer the perfect mix of comfort, charm and adventure—for humans and hounds alike.
WORDS SUSIE ATKINSON
OAKRIDGE COTTAGE – Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire
Why Here?
If smugglers, sea spray, and sash windows are your thing – and your dog’s idea of heaven involves sandy paws, clifftop walkies, and post-sniffing snuggles by a wood-burning stove – then quaint Oakridge Cottage in this picturesque 17th-century fishing village fits the bill. Hidden down a tangle of cobbled streets in Robin Hood’s Bay, this romantic stone-fronted bolthole for two (plus your pampered pooch) oozes history and hygge in equal measure. Think lapping waves, pirate legends, and a restored fisherman’s cottage with all the mod cons.
Dog-Friendly Coastal Town?
Robin Hood’s Bay is famously dog-loving – from the pub landlords who greet your four-legged friend by name, to the expansive beach that’s open year-round for off-lead frolics. You could spend hours wandering the cobbled ginnels with your pup – every twist reveals a new delight: a secret garden, a second-hand bookshop, a perfectly wonky cottage. You’re in the heart of the North York Moors National Park too, with its winding coastal paths, smugglers’ trails, and panoramic clifftop views. Pop into dog-friendly café The Cove for breakfast with a view, and don’t miss the Old Coastguard Station – a National Trust museum with water bowls and waggy welcomes.
And for the Humans?
Inside, the one-bedroom Oakridge Cottage is cute coastal chic. Recently refurbished, it blends traditional features – beamed ceilings, wood floors, sash windows – with modern touches like an internet radio and smart TVs. There’s a Nespresso machine for lazy mornings, and a wood-burning stove for curling up with your mutt after a windswept walk. Upstairs (be aware, the stairs are steep), the cosy bedroom has luxe bedding and a second TV for duvet-day indulgence.
Dog-friendly beaches?
Robin Hood’s Bay Beach is dog-friendly all year round – it’s also sandy, scenic, and famous for ancient fossils. The largest dinosaur footprint ever seen in Yorkshire, thought to have belonged to a Megalosaurus, was found on this stretch of coastland. At low tide, the beach stretches endlessly, with rock pools, fossils aplenty, and spectacular views across the bay. You can stroll the length of it from the village to Boggle Hole, where the youth hostel café now serves excellent cake and coffee with sea views (yes, dogs are welcome). But make sure you are aware of tide times, or you may get cut off.
Walkies?
Tails will be wagging. One day, take the 10-mile loop along the coastal path to Ravenscar – stop for cake at the National Trust café – and return via the old Cinder Track. Another day, head the opposite way via the clifftops and climb the 199 steps to Whitby Abbey, perched on the clifftop. Grab lunch at the YHA café just behind it and listen carefully. They say the lost bells of the old abbey can still be heard ringing beneath the waves, and that a real-life shipwreck off the coast inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula – a story that’s turned Whitby into the unofficial Goth capital of England.
What does it cost?
Prices for two nights in July start at £399, and deals may be available if you book a longer stay. Oakridge Cottage sleeps two people and up to two dogs.
How do I book?
Call 01244 617683, or search for Oakridge Cottage at sykescottages.co.uk.
THE BARNACLE GOOSE – North Plain Farm, Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria
Why here?
Perched at the north-western tip of Cumbria, The Barnacle Goose at North Plain Farm is a soul-soothing escape on the wild Solway Firth. It’s not just remote – it’s otherworldly. It is set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at one end of the Hadrian’s Wall Path, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and adjacent to an RSPB nature reserve. Expect eerie, edge-of-the-earth beauty: vast salt marshes, and haunting skies stitched with birds.
Dog-friendly vibes
Fido will feel positively fêted with a welcome pack that includes a ball, biodegradable poo bags, and dreamy Sir Woofchester’s Sleepy Bones treats. Dogs are allowed on most paths through the reserve (leads are a must due to its feathered residents), and the barn has an enclosed garden for sniff-
heavy sessions and toad surveillance – the Solway Firth is one of the few UK breeding areas for natterjacks, and you can hear them singing on spring nights.
And for the humans?
This Cumbrian stone barn is a blend of wild nature and modern indulgence. A bi-fold patio door floods the front room with light. There are exposed stone walls, king-sized beds, walk-in rainfall showers, two mega TVs plus more in the bedrooms (because sometimes it’s wildlife outside, popcorn and period drama inside). There’s a barbecue, fire pit and front seating area for watching sunsets or sketching buzzards.
Dog-friendly beaches?
The Solway coast is more wildlife watching than bucket-and-spade territory – but it’s all the more spellbinding for it. This property is right opposite an expansive sandy beach, but fast tides mean the sea is not for swimming in. Instead, pack binoculars to spot wading curlews and pink-footed geese swooping across silvery sands.
Walkies
The options here are the stuff of doggie daydreams. The Bowness Common National Nature Reserve behind the barn is a brilliant (if boggy) stomp across rare lowland peatland, while one end of the Hadrian’s Wall Path is right in the local village – it’s an 84-mile trail to Wallsend in North Tyneside if your hound has heroic stamina. Or, for a gentler meander, head to The Banks, a community garden with views over to Scotland and plenty of birdsong.
What does it cost?
The barn sleeps eight people in three bedrooms, plus two dogs. Seven nights from £1,349 (with no extra charge for your furry sidekicks).
How do I book?
Call 0345 268 0766 or find out more and book online at cottages.com.
THE GALLERY – Lesbury, Northumberland
WHY HERE?
Nestled in the charming hamlet of Lesbury, The Gallery is a delightful two-bedroom stone cottage perfectly situated for exploring both the golden beaches of the Northumberland coastline and the castles of the region. This dog-friendly retreat is cosy but has a luxury feel, with a well-equipped granite-topped kitchen, rainfall showers and a magnificent stand-alone bath.
The cottage welcomes four-legged friends with open arms – dogs are free to roam the fully enclosed front garden and can enjoy long walks along picturesque riversides and the wide sandy beaches of the famed Northumberland coast.
AND FOR THE HUMANS?
The Gallery boasts an open-plan living space with a log-burning stove. The property is aptly named, showcasing beautiful original art and ceramics
from the local Old School Gallery in Alnmouth (theoldschoolgallery.co.uk). Upstairs, the luxurious master bedroom – with super-king bed, timber beams, and freestanding tub – offers a sanctuary after a day of exploring. A ground-floor bedroom with en-suite facilities ensures comfort for all guests, including those with limited mobility.
DOG-FRIENDLY BEACHES?
Only a 15-minute walk away, nearby Alnmouth Beach is perfect for dogs, with year-round access to its vast, sandy stretches and rolling dunes.
A little further afield, Rose Sands offers a quieter escape, where your pup can enjoy the freedom to explore, while you marvel at the sandpipers and stunning views of the nearby nature reserve on Coquet Island.
WALKIES
For a picturesque walk, head to Buston Links and Rose Sands. This peaceful trail takes you past the ruins of 18th-century guano huts and up to Church Hill for breathtaking views over Alnmouth.
For a longer walk, head along the beach to Warkworth, and dog-friendly medieval Warkworth Castle – a fortress perched on a hilltop at the head of the high street. Stop off at Bertram’s (bertrams.co.uk) for breakfast, lunch or tea – dogs are welcome here.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Rates at The Gallery range from £950 per week in low season to £2,095 in high season.
HOW DO I BOOK?
To secure your stay at The Gallery, call 01573 226711 or visit crabtreeandcrabtree.com/properties/the-gallery.
