Pet-friendly holiday ideas

For pet owners considering a holiday on a canal boat or river cruiser and who want to take along ‘man’s best friend’, there are lots of opportunities on waterwaysholidays.com, which offers a huge choice of boating holidays right across the UK.

For example, a couple can bring along one dog, free of charge, if they opt for a week cruising the Grand Union Canal on board Swift, a 40ft narrowboat based at North Kilworth Wharf in Leicestershire. A week starting 10 July is £760.

An option for a party of up to six people and two dogs is a week on ‘Firecrest’, a 69ft narrowboat based on the River Wey at Farncombe, ideal for visiting riverside villages and towns in Surrey or even joining the Thames and cruising down to Windsor. A week starting 17 July is £1530. Visit waterwaysholidays.com for more information.


Avoid the guilt and the kennel fees by making 2009 the year of the real family holiday by opting for a self-drive break where four-legged friends are welcome.

Irish Ferries makes no charge for dogs on their ferries and, unlike the rest of Europe, Ireland does not require a ‘pet passport’ or special inoculations.

The operator also features self-catering holiday homes where pets are welcome. For example, a week at the four-star, log-cabin-style Ballyhoura Forest Homes – great for walking in the woods and on the Ballyhoura Mountains - costs £780 for two adults, up to four children (and dog) starting 18 July. This includes return Pembroke/Rosslare or Holyhead/Dublin ferry crossings for car and passengers.
Visit irishferries.com for more details.


On a special website - thewoofguide.co.uk – Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire has lots of pet-friendly properties and also information on dog-friendly pubs, restaurants and activities in the area.

All featured cottages have been specially reviewed – with a ‘paw rating’ - for their suitability for five categories of pet – everything from puppies to pensioners.

For example, a week’s stay at Heddfan, a three-bedroom cottage (sleeps seven) with walled garden at Mathry is £901 from 18 July. The Coastal Path is a few minutes’ walkies down a footpath, the Ship Inn at nearby Trefin accepts dogs in the garden, while at the Atramont Arms in Croesgoch they can join their owners at the bar. Log on to coastalcottages.co.uk or visit thewoofguide.co.uk.