Take your furry friend to North Wales, where there are mountains, beaches, ancient culture, castles and UNESCO World Heritage Sites to explore.
Whether you sojourn to Snowdonia National Park, seaside towns like Llandudno, a picturesque market town, or the Llyn Peninsula, humans and canines alike are sure to appreciate the dog-friendly beaches, rolling hills and unspoilt countryside across North Wales. Pet-friendly cottages have been set up across South Wales, West Wales and Mid Wales, but it’s North Wales that snares many due to its exceptional and diverse landscapes.
The options are endless when it comes to staying in dog-friendly cottages in North Wales. You could put down roots in a dainty place along the Wales Coastal Path or next to Cardigan Bay for a pure coastal retreat. Alternatively, head into the hills of Snowdonia National Park, an area with dark sky status and many tough slopes that you can tackle with your four-legged friend. Dog-friendly cottages with a picturesque, secluded location in the peaceful countryside are ideal for nature lovers, and they’re often only a short drive or walk away from a traditional Welsh market town or a UNESCO World Heritage Site such as the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Llangollen Canal. The following dog-friendly holiday cottages are some of the very best on offer right now, and they include features such as a private hot tub, wood burning stove, games room, and barbecue.
The Top 8 Dog Friendly Cottages in North Wales:
1. Ty-Gwyn Cottage (Clynnog-Fawr, Caernarfon)
2. Yr Hen Hofel (Bala, North Wales)
3. Tan Twr (Llanfairpwll, Anglesey)
4. Hilltop Lodge (Corwen, North Wales)
5. Glan Towyn (Rhoscolyn, Anglesey)
6. Beudy Bach (Llanfair, North Wales)
7. Bel Mare (Old Colwyn, North Wales)
8. Tyn Y Ceubren Bach at Evelyns Retreat (Glyndyfrdwy, North Wales)
Ty-Gwyn Cottage
Location: Clynnog-Fawr, Caernarfon
Best for: A stone cottage between Snowdonia and the west coast of Wales
One glance at Ty-Gwyn Cottage and you might think that it’s a fully rural abode. While that’s partly true – the three-bedroom stone cottage has direct access to 10 acres of farmland with meadows and wildlife – it’s also only a five-minute drive away from the dog-friendly beach of Aberdesach Beach. Whether you’re skimming pebbles on the shore, hiking through the surrounding Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or taking the short drive east into Snowdonia’s hills, this North Wales find will keep you active in the mountains, countryside and coast.
The Trefor Sea Stacks are one of the closest beauty spots to Ty-Gwyn, accessible by car or along the Wales Coast Path. Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, is a 40-minute drive to the east for those who want to tick off a bucket-list item with their canine in tow. That’s not the only place where you can get in a challenging hike nearby, however. Beddgelert Forest, Moel Hebog and Crib Goch are all located a short drive away for more forest and mountain hiking settings.
Facilities: Ty-Gwyn Cottage is exactly what you’d expect from a traditional, stone-built cottage. Located on a working farm, there’s a bumpy track to access the cottage, a telling sign that you can expect plenty of peace and relaxation. Bring logs for the woodburning stove and mountain bikes to tackle the track; it’s all part of the experience. With views of the Glyderau mountain range and the local valley, there’s no need to seek views elsewhere for sunset if you don’t want to. Seven people can fit into this dog-friendly accommodation, and there’s a TV, Bluetooth speaker, dining table and traditional décor to settle everyone in nicely.
Yr Hen Hofel
Location: Bala, North Wales
Best for: A couples’ retreat a short drive from Bala Lake
Yr Hen Hofel is the perfect romantic retreat in North Wales for adventure dates with up to two dogs. Located in Bala in the Snowdonia National Park, it’s within easy reach of both north and mid Wales. Bala Lake, or Llyn Tegid as the Welsh name goes, is an easy five-minute drive from the holiday cottage. So, as soon as you’re finished eating breakfast at the dining table, in bed or in front of the Freesat TV in the comfy lounge, you can try out activities such as raft building, mountain biking, canoeing, abseiling and windsurfing, without too much trouble at all.
Should you decide to tackle the big Snowdon mountain hike, the peak is only an hour’s drive from the pet-friendly cottage. Closer by, however, is Coed y Brenin Forest Park, where there’s bicycle hire available, along with graded mountain biking trails accompanied by stunning forest scenery. Blaenau Ffestiniog, a slate mining town which hosts a Zip World site with bouncy castles in underground caverns and quick zipwires, is also easy to reach from Yr Hen Hofel.
Facilities: Traditional in style, Yr Hen Hofel is a cosy abode with subtle details such as shutters, patterned curtains, exposed beams and dark oak furnishings. Built from stone, the cottage is surprisingly spacious for a one-bedroom holiday home. Despite its traditional feel, the kitchen has modern equipment including a ceramic hob, electric oven, microwave and a spacious fridge-freezer. Those with a young child can provide for them using the cot and highchair available upon request. Handily, there’s also permission to bring up to two dogs, meaning that those with a pair of canines needn’t separate them.
Tan Twr
Location: Llanfairpwll, Anglesey
Best for: One of the most luxurious dog-friendly holiday cottages in the line-up
At the top of a tall drive and tucked into the countryside surrounding the village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrnd Robwllllantysiliogogogoch, the location with the longest name in all of Europe, Tan Twr is a dog-friendly cottage with a memorable location. Just as memorable as the village’s name are the views over the sloping countryside and the two floors of elegant furnishings. Despite seeming removed from noise and interference, Tan Twr is only a short walk away from the village’s pubs, café and takeaway, as well as the village’s Toll House, signpost and Menai Bridge.
Tan Twr is at the gateway to the Isle of Anglesey, meaning that the coastal path, dog-friendly beaches, old harbours, scuba diving sites, ancient burial chambers and castles are all within easy reach. In Beaumaris, ogle over the medley of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian buildings, then check out the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Beaumaris Castle. With your dog, you can also take a boat trip to Puffin Island to check out the local wildlife and the puffins.
Facilities: Impressive from the outside and just as pleasant on the inside, Tan Twr is one of the more luxurious dog-friendly holiday cottages in the lineup. The property has extensive windows, so there’s plenty of natural light to brighten up the oak staircase, open-plan living room and modern kitchen. The two floors are home to four bedrooms, including two kingsize ensuites, a twin bedroom and a second kingsize bedroom. Exposed stone walls add to the ambience of the downstairs and upstairs, while modern bathrooms ensure that guests will feel cosy and comfortable the entire stay.
Hilltop Lodge
Location: Corwen, North Wales & Snowdonia
Best for: A luxurious hot tub retreat in central North Wales
If soaking in the hot tub on your private roof terrace and watching the sun sink over the North Wales hills sounds like something you can get behind, Hilltop Lodge is the ideal place. The two-bedroom chalet-like lodge sits on the peak of a hilltop in Maerdy, and it has an outdoor shower where guests can scrub up their dog’s paws after hiking in the nearby Snowdonia National Park. Human guests, meanwhile, can unwind on the front patio, where the firepit barbecue and the woodfired hot tub are located.
Hilltop Lodge has an excellent location for dog owners. It’s under an hour’s drive away from the north coast of Wales, including seaside towns like Rhyl and Prestatyn. However, most conveniently, it’s a short drive away from other spectacular areas in Snowdonia National Park such as Bala Lake, Coed y Brenin Forest Park, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Gwydir Forest Park, where activities such as mountain biking, abseiling, raft building, canoeing and hiking are available to get stuck into.
Facilities: Begin and end your day on the private roof terrace, where there’s a firepit barbecue for cooking breakfast sausages or evening toasties. The hot tub is bound to be appealing whatever the time of day, but if you feel like staying inside, simply sink into the kingsize bed or bunk bed, and whip up a quick dose of caffeine using the coffee machine in the kitchen. With a wide patio, chalet-style lodgings and views in all directions, there’s really nothing missing from this pet-friendly cottage in north-mid Wales.
Glan Towyn
Location: Rhoscolyn, Anglesey
Best for: Luxury dog-friendly accommodation for up to 12 people on the Isle of Anglesey
If you’re going on a big family getaway to North Wales, Glan Towyn could be exactly what you need. Sleeping 12 people across six bedrooms and four bathrooms, the luxury holiday home is based on the Isle of Anglesey and within walking distance of the beach. Traeth Borth Wen is a dog-friendly sandy beach with rockpools and a crescent shape on the southern shore of the isle, so it couldn’t be more convenient for dog owners. You can walk along the coastal path to stunning geological formations like Bwa Gwyn, a rock arch on a wild cliff line, too.
Glan Towyn might invite you to luxuriate in the pet-friendly cottage, given it has an alfresco dining area, sauna and hot tub. However, also provided with the property are paddleboards, kayaks and wetsuits so that guests can really make the most of the local bays, whether it’s Traeth Borth or the beaches further out such as Traeth Llydan, Porth Diana Beach and Trearddur Bay.
Facilities: Glan Towyn is packed with luxuries, whether it be the high-quality watersports equipment and games room to things as simple as underfloor heating, woodburning stoves, a bean-to-cup coffee machine and eight Smart TVs. There are two balconies kitted out with sofas and cushions, as well as a selection of outdoor games and a sauna and hot tub on the separate patio. In the games room, you can enjoy a friendly match of pool, darts or table tennis. There’s a PS4 provided for any avid gamers in the group too.
Beudy Bach
Location: Llanfair, North Wales
Best for: A pet-friendly cottage with a rural location near Harlech Beach and Harlech Castle
Based just a short distance away from the owners’ 120-acre working farm, Beudy Bach has been tenderly crafted into a beautiful and cosy pet-friendly cottage for four on the North West Wales coast. The nearby village of Llanfair is just a short drive from Cardigan Bay, the Rhinog Mountains and Shell Island. Golfers can tee off on the Royal St David’s Course nearby, and hikers can set about tackling the peaks in Snowdonia National Park to the east. Bala Lake is one of the closest points in the national park, where guests can try out an array of watersports and other outdoor activities such as mountain biking or rock climbing.
You might have been attracted to Beudy Bach due to its position on the Cambrian Coast, and handily, it won’t be long until you track down a beach. The pet-friendly cottage is two miles from Harlech Beach, a four-mile cove forming part of Cardigan Bay. Take the dog for a walk between the sand dunes, stopping to fully soak in the views of the Snowdonia mountains, and then visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Harlech Castle.
Facilities: Part of the charm of Beudy Bach is that it’s part of a family farm. As a result, the property is surrounded by oak trees and trusses, with cattle and sheep filling the surrounding fields. The front garden, which is fully enclosed, takes in some of these spectacular views, but the patio is especially inviting, as it has a charcoal barbecue, furniture and a lawn. Inside the stone cottage, there are smart TVs, DVDs and WiFi to entertain you, as well as a warming woodburning stove in the sitting room to warm the cockles on cooler evenings.
Bel Mare
Location: Old Colwyn, North Wales
Best for: A two-bedroom cottage with sea views over Colwyn Bay
Positioned above Colwyn Bay, Bel Mare has sea views to boast about. The two-bedroom cottage has a dreamy little rear garden with olive trees, and on top of that, the inside is the perfect place to relax after taking a stroll along the Fairy Glen walking trail nearby. If you want the sea, and you want it fast, Llanddulas Beach is one of the closest spots. Llandudno is only a short drive to the west too, and it has a Victorian harbour, Victorian tramway and prehistoric mines to keep history buffs occupied.
In case you’re hungry after all of the seaside spots that are available to explore in the local area, there’s a gastro pub or a small supermarket nearby the holiday cottage where you can either eat out or stock up on food to cook in the self-catering kitchen. A well-behaved small or medium-sized dog is permitted at Bel Mare, and they’re sure to appreciate the exciting sights along the Wales Coast Path just as much as their human companion.
Facilities: The patio might be the highlight of this pet-friendly cottage. Oak-coloured and decorated with potted terracotta plants, there’s rattan furniture where guests can prop their feet up and watch the waves roll in over Colwyn Bay. The conservatory is bright, spacious and shares the same views, backing onto a small but cosy living room with a Smart TV and a woodburning stove sandwiched against the exposed stone wall. Scattered with small but homely touches such as lanterns, potted plants and tasteful artwork, the cottage is very cosy indeed.
Tyn Y Ceubren Bach at Evelyns Retreat
Location: Glyndyfrdwy, North Wales
Best for: A rural retreat a short drive from Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Llangollen Canal
Tyn Y Ceubren Bach at Evelyns Retreat is a rural Welsh retreat with a friendly atmosphere. Furnished with jazzy décor and a woodburning stove, there’s plenty of colour throughout the property. Add to that a canopied balcony with views over the green fields and a quiet village location a short drive from Llangollen, and you’ve got an impressive getaway in store. If you’ve been looking for pet-friendly cottages that are near UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Tyn Y Ceubren Bach at Evelyns Retreat certainly fits the bill.
The village of Glyndyfrdwy is a 10-minute drive away from Llangollen in north-west Wales. The canal forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Llangollen Canal, where boats travel over a Grade I-listed canal raised 126 feet above the River Dee. In the other direction, head to Bala Lake for hair-raising activities such as hiking, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing and mountain biking.
Facilities: When it comes to dog-friendly cottages with a view, Tyn Y Ceubren Bach at Evelyns Retreat has one of the best out there. The spacious canopy balcony offers shelter for all weather, along with a selection of cosy armchairs and sunlounger-style seating where you can crack open a beer, a good book or a board game. On the rear patio, a gas barbecue awaits for alfresco evenings sharing stories and good food. However, if you want to move the socialising inside, there are two smart TVs, a sound bar, WiF and equipment such as a coffee machine and an electric double oven in the kitchen.
Discover More Dog-Friendly Cottages with Breakfree Holidays
If you haven’t quite found your match yet, Breakfree Holidays has a wide selection of dog-friendly cottages in North Wales with spectacular locations near mountains, lakes, beaches, market towns and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They also have features such as hot tubs, wood burning stoves, games rooms and firepits.
Please note that some of the images in this blog post have been provided by Sykes Cottages.