Dreaming of cruising on the waters of Lake Windermere or the Norfolk Broads, but can’t bear to leave your four-legged friend behind? No worries! We at Breakfree Holidays have all the best dog-friendly boating holidays that you and your dogs will love.
Breakfree Holidays have sourced a range of canal-boating holidays and holiday parks on or near the water, so you can helm the ship of your own holiday. If you’re chomping at the bit to get back on board, we’ll have you cruising down a canal with your furry friend in no time. Grab a dog-life jacket! With Breakfree Holidays, any boating holiday is paw-sible.
Here are our round-ups of great dog-friendly holiday options to choose from.
- Parkdean Resorts Cherry Tree
- Parkdean Resorts Fallbarrow
- Benson Return (London)
- Messac Return (France)
- Haven Caister-on-Sea
1. Parkdean Resorts Cherry Tree
Location: Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Best for: The Norfolk Broads and the bright lights of Great Yarmouth!
If you’re looking for pet-friendly boating holidays this summer, then this holiday park is a great choice! Not only are you next to the UK’s top National Waterlands Park, but you’ll also be near the buzz of Great Yarmouth and its gorgeous beach to let your beloved dog run free and splash about in the waves.
Your pooches will be happy to know the Norfolk Broads have miles and miles of great dog-walking routes walks to take them on, and many hire-boat companies are happy to have dogs on board. There are lots of fantastic dog-friendly pubs where pups can rest their weary paws at the end of a long stretch by the water.
A top tip for bringing your beloved pets to the Norfolk Broads is to invest in dog life jackets to make sure your pets stay safe on your boating holiday this year. Also, don’t forget to bring your pets’ favourite toy and dog bed to help your dog feel right at home on its boating holiday this summer!
Facilities: As well as having a fantastic choice of sandy beaches nearby to play fetch on, this holiday park has wonderful onsite amenities for you too. Make the most of your time on dry land by dipping in the indoor and outdoor heated pools. Alternatively, search out the local wildlife with your pets in tow on the Wildlife Nature Trail, and have a delicious meal afterwards in the Coast Bar and Kitchen.
Parkdean Resorts always provides a great dog-friendly holiday. With such incredible access to the outstanding natural beauty of the Norfolk Broads, you’d be barking mad not to book now!
2. Parkdean Resorts Fallbarrow
Location: Windermere, Cumbria
Best for: Lake Windermere and great dog-friendly pubs
Dog-friendly boating holidays don’t get much better than this. You’ll make your four-legged friend very happy with this lakeside holiday park, as it’s right on the water and surrounded by extensive private woodlands for your pets to kick up leaves and dig for treasure. No wonder it’s top-rated!
We think dog owners will be happy to hear that there are a plethora of fantastic dog-friendly pubs just steps away from the accommodation at Fallbarrow such as The Albert and the Flying Pig Pub, so the whole family can have a tasty meal or a drink in the sun, watching the boats bob in the water.
Great news! One of the top tourist attractions on the lake, Windermere Cruises, is not only dog friendly but your puppy pal can even travel for free on one of the best ways to see all of the stunning scenery Lake Windermere has to offer.
Facilities: All of your boating needs will surely be met with the marina berth and boat launch facilities available, should you have your own boat. Otherwise, there’s a variety of boats, yachts and cruisers available for hire. The pet-friendly accommodation options range from luxury lodges to cosy caravans, so you and your dogs can rest your hind legs after a day of activities on and off the water.
There are also fantastic picnicking spots overlooking the water, so the whole family can enjoy a meal out. You can also visit the newly decorated Willow restaurant for some delicious fine dining, but the pooch might have to sit this one out and stand guard at home!
3. Benson Return (Thames)
Location: London
Best for: Staycation for Londoners and visitors to the capital city
Picture this: You and your dog, sailing down a London canal. Our partners at Le Boat have got some great Thames route options and lots of dog-friendly canal boats and cruisers ready to show you and your pets a paw-some time!
One of the many draws of these dog-friendly holidays is that there are lots of great pubs along the way that are pet-friendly, so you can dock along the canal and pop in somewhere for a great pub lunch with your furry friend.
There are so many fantastic attractions, woodlands and walks on this route. You can stop off in Windsor, Marlow, Henley-on-Thames to see some of the most charming towns and villages Britain has to offer, all with your beloved pooch.
Facilities: For a small dog, all boat sizes are suitable. For larger dogs, you may want to look at the Vision Series of boats which you can check out on the Le Boat Website. Otherwise, there’s a range of boats to suit every budget from the Classic range to Premier Plus. A pet supplement of £50 per pet with a maximum of two pets per boat will apply.
It’s a good idea to bring a life jacket if your dog likes to splash to make sure everyone is happy and safe. Le Boat has an article on tips and tricks for bringing your dogs onboard here.
4. Messac Return
Location: Messac, Brittany, France
Best for: Rennes, Josselin Castle and croissants!
The great thing about any of the French routes run by our partners at Le Boat is that long walks are possible along the canal paths on these pet-friendly boating holidays. That makes them a great reason to cross the channel!
Known as the ‘land of a thousand castles,’ there are lots of great places to stop, picnic and play fetch. History lovers can travel back in time to Château de Josselin as well as Château de Nantes and its accompanying museum for something special. If you’re looking for a bit more action, then the vibrant Rennes, Brittany’s capital city, offers some action alongside the hustle and bustle.
Brittany has unrivalled gastronomy, so make the most of your time in France by shucking some Breton oysters, having a galette or un crêpe du sucre! There’s sure to be lots of nice doggy treats about, as the French are notorious dog lovers.
Facilities: Almost every boat is equipped to carry up to two dogs on board. Le Boat advises that for bigger dogs, you might want to have the salon and the cabin on one level without stairs and make sure dogs can jump on and off independently.
These boats have everything you need, from a fully equipped kitchen to a stylish interior design. Customer service and support come included with the cost of the boat, so you can navigate through those locks with ease.
Looking for somewhere else in France? Here at Breakfree Holidays, you can choose from plenty of great boating routes on our website here. Alternatively, you can also find routes in Germany, Holland and Italy if you’re looking for European escapes.
4. Haven Caister-on-Sea
Location: Great Yarmouth Norfolk
Best for: The Norfolk Broads and miles of sandy beaches.
So good we had to do it twice! The Norfolk Broads are ideal for pet-friendly boating holidays with golden, sandy beaches as far as the eye can see and for exploring one of the most outstanding areas of natural beauty in the UK. It’s easy to see how this holiday park has been going strong since 1906!
For the boating enthusiasts among you, you can hire dog-friendly boats at the Broads, or even just take a walk along the marshlands and observe the wildlife and stunning scenery while your four-legged friend hunts down an enticing stick to play with.
Feeling peckish? Luckily Great Yarmouth and the Norfolk Broads are some of the most dog-friendly places to choose for your boating holidays, so you can treat yourself to a fantastic lunch at The Marine by the seafront or The Ferry Inn towards the Broads after a day out to rest your paws!
Facilities: You can enjoy direct access to Great Yarmouth Beach for you and your pooch to stretch the hind legs. There’s an adventure village full of fun and adrenaline-filled activities for all the family. There are four grades of caravan ranges to suit all budgets, with dog-friendly caravans across all options.
Looking for Even More Boating Holidays?
Got your sights set on the individually inspected boats of a Le Boat holiday in Scotland? Or perhaps you would rather take a canal boat down the Thames waterways. Whatever incredible waterway holiday you dream of, we at Breakfree Holidays are happy to help make it a reality with amazing last-minute discounts.
Explore the Breakfree Holidays website to get booking your boating adventure today!