The North Yorkshire coast is full of surprises.
It is home to everything from sheer cliffs, busy seaside resorts and historic fishing villages to a petrified forest and fossil-rich Jurassic beaches. Naturally, the region is extremely pet friendly; pets and their owners should love tackling the coastal path, digging for fossils, dining in pet-friendly pubs and taking boat trips over the big blue.
The North Yorkshire Coast doubles up as a base for visiting the Yorkshire Dales and the Yorkshire Wolds. However, if you want to stick to the coast only, there are no shortages of dog-friendly holiday cottages spread out over towns and villages like Robin Hood’s Bay, Whitby and Scarborough, as well as slightly more rural cottages for you and your four-legged friend. Finding dog-friendly beaches, dog walking trails and stunning scenery will be a breeze from the following dog-friendly cottages on the North Yorkshire coast. Even better, some of the dog-friendly cottages include features such as a hot tub, wood-burning stove and a private terrace.
The Top 8 Dog Friendly Cottages Near the North Yorkshire Coast:
1. Shipmates Cottage (Scarborough, North York Moors)
2. The Garden Apartment (Filey, North York Moors)
3. 2 The Close (Robin Hood’s Bay, North York Moors)
4. Larksbay View (Marske-by-the-Sea, North York Moors)
5. Highview (Scarborough, North York Moors)
6. Walkers Halt (Boulby, North York Moors)
7. Beachcrest (Whitby, North York Moors)
8. Fossil Cottage (Whitby, North York Moors)
Shipmates Cottage
Location: Scarborough, North York Moors
Best for: A quirky Grade II-listed cottage within walking distance of the beach
With a quirky living room and a location on a cobbled Scarborough Street, Shipmates Cottage is a dog-friendly cottage with a unique atmosphere. The cottage is actually a Grade-II listed building with four floors, and all of which have been decorated with bright patterned cushions, unique artwork and patterned furniture. There’s room for two well-behaved dogs and their four humans, so a memorable whole family getaway on the North Yorkshire coast is guaranteed.
That’s also partly because Shipmates Cottage is within walking distance of South Bay, where there’s a sandy stretch with a small harbour, ice cream parlours, seafood stalls, donkey rides and speed boat departures over the bay. While you’re at it, check out Scarborough’s many different entertainment options. There’s a spa if you want to pamper yourself and a castle with a 12th-century tower looking over the coast where history buffs can reminisce on what the landscape would have looked like centuries ago.
Facilities: With four floors of facilities, Shipmates Cottage has plenty to entertain a family of four. In theory, there’s a floor per person. The lower ground is home to the kitchen-diner with the luxury of a ceramic hob, a fridge-freezer, a wine cooler, a shaker-style cabinet, hand-painted tiles and an electric-effect woodburning stove. Switch on the TV, which is provided with a Firestick and WiFi, or whip out a board game for some old-fashioned entertainment. Upstairs, there are two double bedrooms, one on the first floor with an industrial feel and another on the second floor with a view of Scarborough Castle.
The Garden Apartment
Location: Filey, North York Moors
Best for: A classically-styled apartment on the North Yorkshire Coast
A white-coloured, street-level apartment typical of Filey, The Garden Apartment is a pretty convenient place to stay on the North Yorkshire Coast. The two-bedroom flat is just a short walk from the historic town centre in Filey, as well as Crescent Gardens and the beach. The seaside location means that guests can just as easily spend a day digging up sand or jet skiing as they can cycling in the North Riding Forest Park or hiking on the slopes of the Howardian Hills.
Filey is a former fishing village, which has lately been transformed into a lively resort town well-suited to an action-packed family holiday. Rummage through the rockpools on the beach before making the ascent up Filey Brigg, where the 20-metre-high cliffs have a spectacular view of the beach. Scarborough, another of Yorkshire’s famed seaside resorts, is also only a 15 minutes’ drive away from the dog-friendly accommodation.
Facilities: From morning coffees on the front patio to slow breakfasts in bed, The Garden Apartment has plenty of opportunities for relaxation. Couples and small families will both feel at home here. The bedrooms have a cream colour scheme with gentle lighting provided by chandeliers and lampshades, and this colour scheme continues into the living room, where there are leather sofas, a TV and a golden-hued electric fire. The property is classic in style, and this extends from the interior to the exterior.
2 The Close
Location: Robin Hood’s Bay, North York Moors
Best for: A cosy apartment in a Yorkshire fishing village
Those who want to visit the fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay are in for a treat at 2 The Close, a cosy bungalow positioned on the cliffs over the adjoining coastline. Ideal for four-legged friends, the dog-friendly cottage is centrally located for hiking over the North Yorkshire Coast, particularly the Cleveland Heritage Coast. Stroll 15 minutes to Whitby, which is famed for its Gothic connections to Dracula by Bram Stoker and its fish restaurants.
While it may be small, Robin Hood’s Bay has a long smuggling history and a scenic assortment of cobbled streets. The beach has dense golden sand, and there’s a riding centre where you can arrange to take it all in by horseback. Alternatively, grab a fish and chips takeaway and tuck in by the shore, or learn some of the village’s smuggling stories in the Robin Hood’s Bay Museum. There are cafés scattered around the town for a warming brew following a day spent in and out of the sea.
Facilities: 2 The Close is a semi-detached bungalow with an enviable location. The clifftop position shouldn’t be a source of worries for dog owners, however, as like many of the dog-friendly cottages in this round-up, it has a fully-enclosed garden. Plant yourself in one of the blue-painted wooden deckchairs ready for the daily sunset show or set about rustling up a family meal using the kitchen, which has a microwave, toaster and fridge-freezer.
Larksbay View
Location: Marske-by-the-Sea, North York Moors
Best for: A modern pet-friendly cottage next to a dog-friendly beach
Sprinkled with sea-themed décor and fitted with bay windows framing sand dunes and the rippling ocean along the North Yorkshire Coast, Larksbay View is exactly the spot for a four-person seaside holiday. The bungalow has plenty of space for not just one four-legged friend, but two, which is a good job, because the sandy dog-friendly beach of Marske By The Sea is just a few steps from the front door.
Marske by the Sea is a small Yorkshire village squeezed between Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea. Unlike its neighbouring seaside resorts, Marske by the Sea has a quieter atmosphere, ideal for families and chilled-out getaways. When you want a little more action, it’s only a short drive to Saltburn-by-the-Sea’s cliff tramway, pier and miniature railway. In the other direction, Redcar’s racecourse hosts regular racing events and Redcar Beach has another gorgeous stretch of sand popular for horse riding and windsurfing.
Facilities: There are plenty of things to like about Larksbay View, including the communal patio kitted out with potted plants and surrounded by a picket fence, not to mention its view over the swaying grass of Marske by the Sea’s sand dunes. Bay windows bring the view into the cosy, modern living area, which has a smart TV with Freeview, books and games for a quiet, quality night in. Styled like a country cottage, the kitchen also has plenty of equipment, meaning that cooked breakfasts, late-night snacks and sunset tipples will be easy to prepare.
Highview
Location: Scarborough, North York Moors
Best for: A lovely cottage in Scarborough North Yorkshire
Suitable for 12 holidayers, Highview is one of the largest dog-friendly holiday cottages in our lineup. Then, the name Highview comes in. Set across four floors, the five-bedroom home is a tall holiday home located in Scarborough North Yorkshire, one of the most desirable sections of the North Yorkshire Coast. It’s also a short drive from the North York Moors National Park, where there are forests, fishing villages and other seaside towns such as Whitby.
Being positioned just a street away from the seafront, Highview is in an optimal position for exploring the local coast. Begin by getting some fresh sea air at North Bay or South Bay, the resort’s two main beaches. If you want to get more closely acquainted with the waves, there are surfboards and kayaks for rent nearby too. A long list of pubs and shops are scattered around the town, including plenty of pet-friendly holes where your four-legged friend can whine for your leftovers.
Facilities: Highview is not without character. The living room is decorated with portraits reminiscent of those in a country house’s boardroom, with leather seating, armchairs and footstools providing a traditional place to prop your feet up too. If you don’t mind standing, take up the position behind the telescope in the bay window to spy on the boats and birds bobbing in the sea. There’s a traditional dining area too, along with five classically-styled bedrooms with features such as four-poster beds and vintage changing screens.
Walkers Halt
Location: Boulby, North York Moors
Best for: A clifftop cottage in the North York Moors National Park
Located in the North York Moors National Park, Walkers Halt is a lovely cottage for outdoor enthusiasts. It gets plenty of fresh sea air, thanks to its position on a cliff in the tiny village of Boulby just outside of Staithes, and there’s no end to the activities in the surrounding area. Tear up the cycling trails over the national park, take your four-legged friend on a hike over the cliffs of the North Yorkshire Coast or go paddleboarding from Robin Hood’s Bay. The Cleveland Way National Trail also passes by the cottage.
From Walkers Halt, you might want to make your way west to Saltburn-by-the-Sea to take a steep climb up the cliff tramway or a scenic stroll out over the Victorian pier too. Further west is the smaller seaside town of Marske-by-the-Sea, but in the other direction, Whitby’s famous oyster restaurants and the Dracula Abbey ruins await within driving distance, just after a string of wild and wildlife-packed beaches.
Facilities: Walkers Halt may have a wide variety of local beaches and attractions to boast about, but the dog-friendly cottage also has its own bragging rights. There’s a gallery-style kitchen with top-of-the-range Smeg appliances and views of the sea. A woodburning stove is placed alongside a couple of velvet armchairs and a bookshelf, and a little way along from that is a dining table lit by a string of hanging lightbulbs. With stone walls and exposed beams, this is one of those dog-friendly cottages that has the traditional feel you might associate with the phrase ‘holiday cottages’.
Beachcrest
Location: Whitby, North York Moors
Best for: A large getaway on the outskirts of Whitby
When you’re organising a getaway for up to 10 people, you need somewhere as spacious as Beachcrest. Located in Whitby North Yorkshire, Beachcrest is one of very few dog-friendly cottages in Yorkshire that can accommodate such a large group, with two small well-behaved dogs included no less. As you’d expect from a quality pet-friendly cottage, there’s an enclosed garden to keep pets safe. For the humans, expect a few extra luxuries than your typical cottage too, including a games room, a hot tub and a big gazebo.
Beachcrest is located on the western outskirts of Whitby. It’s right next to the Whitby Golf Club, an outdoor swimming pool and a pub, and it’s just a few minutes’ walk from the promenade. Conveniently, the North York Moor’s trails are just a short drive away, along with fishing villages and other seaside resorts, meaning that all members of the group, canine included, should be well-catered to.
Facilities: What will you do first at Beachcrest? You may decide to dive right into the hot tub, or first prepare some welcome drinks for the group in the gazebo. Walk off the front drive, and the beach is already within sight. However, if you want to stay inside, the basement is kitted out with table tennis and a cinema room. With sea views from several of the windows and the front garden, there’s plenty of scenery to go around.
Fossil Cottage
Location: Whitby, North York Moors
Best for: A former fisherman’s cottage in one of Yorkshire’s most charming towns
A far cry from a boring city apartment, Fossil Cottage is a Grade II-listed former fisherman’s cottage in Whitby’s old town. This gives you a front-row seat for Whitby Abbey and its Dracula connection, as well as the town’s famed oyster restaurants. Make your ascent up the 199 steps that connect the abbey to the town, or stay in the historic centre, hopping between the pubs and restaurants with your faithful four-legged friend. They might get muddy paws on the many hikes that head over the stunning coastline and the North York Moors.
There are many more charming towns a short drive away from Fossil Cottage, along with other natural beauty sites such as forests and dog-friendly beaches. Whitby is only a 15 minutes’ drive away from Robin Hood’s Bay, a fishing village with cobbled streets, fisherman’s cottages and a web of cycling trails in the surrounding area.
Facilities: Named after the fossils that are often dug up on Whitby’s beaches, Fossil Cottage is a cosy abode in Whitby Old Town. Tucked into a cast-iron fireplace, a woodburning stove sheds warmth over a homely living room. Through the gap in the wall, a dining table is tucked into the small kitchen and pantry, and it’s ready for evening meals with the family. The period features such as exposed beams and stone walls come together to create a traditional Yorkshire retreat that will go down in the memory books.
Discover Even More Pet-Friendly Cottages with Breakfree Holidays
What you see above is just a taste of the pet-friendly cottages available with Breakfree Holidays. If you haven’t found your perfect match, head to our website to explore the rest of our range of accommodations across the United Kingdom.
Some of the images in this blog post have been provided by Sykes Cottages.