Enjoying a holiday with your dog is much easier these days – go self-catering! The growth in dog-friendly holiday cottages for short breaks or longer holidays throughout the UK means that pet owners have an inexpensive alternative to placing their pets in kennels while they go on holiday. Now it’s straightforward to take the canine member of your family with you on holiday instead. Here are some valuable tips to follow when planning to take a break with your pet this year.

Click to view: Dogs welcome at Home Farmhouse in Hawkshead, Cumbria.

Upon arrival, don’t forget to check the following to ensure complete peace of mind during your holiday: It’s worth a quick tour of the house to move any items that you don’t want to be broken by a wagging tail or might be toxic, such as cleaning bottles that best belong in a cupboard. Search the garden, too, for things like slug pellets. If your dog likes to chew cables, don’t forget to check for these as

If you are searching for a holiday cottage to enjoy a weekend break in Cornwall, here are some suggestions on things to do that will suit all ages - and some 'cracking' cottages in which to stay. Crackington Haven may be a small North Cornwall village in a secluded coastal location, but it's a little gem. 

Here are six of our best holiday ideas to try on your break away from a far busier world.

Nestled between the dramatic headlands of the rugged North Cornish Coast, you'll find the picturesque hamlet of Crackington Haven. This sheltered cove offers peace and seclusion, while its breathtaking views and spectacular scenery make Crackington Haven the perfect location for a rejuvenating getaway. 

 

A Meal at the Inn 

The recently redecorated Coombe Barton Inn has possibly the most stunning views enjoyed by any pub or restaurant in the country! 

You might be on a self-catering holiday in Cornwall, but give the

This article is primarily intended to provide advice and ideas for owners of holiday cottages looking to make their properties truly child or baby-friendly, ensuring they really do welcome and cater for families planning a self-catering holiday in the UK.

Plan to search for and book baby-friendly cottages. This article will still be of interest if you have a family with young children, giving you an idea about what facilities you can expect to find in holiday cottages where children and babes are welcome.

If you advertise your cottage as suitable for babies, toddlers and infants, a cot and a high chair are only the start if you want to appeal to families with young children. If your property is in a location likely to appeal to such families - and isn’t full of natural hazards, then going the extra mile to appeal to what is quite a substantial market is worth a little investment. 

First, consider what any sensible parent would want for

Here’s a guide to booking a holiday cottage using the My Favourite Holiday Cottages website, together with lots of information about what your payment includes, how to make it and other generally accepted information about renting a holiday cottage that will give you more knowledge and confidence in the booking process.

Let’s assume you have been browsing the site and identified your favourite holiday cottage. What do you do next?

Firstly, Have you got all the information you need?

Prices: The cottage is within your budget It’s available for your dates Arrival day: many cottages have set ‘changeover’ days, especially during school holidays. These are usually Fridays or Saturdays It has specific facilities you’ll need, e.g. hot tub, ground floor bedroom, accepts pets etc. It’s in your desired location (and the Google map within its advert shows that it isn’t located alongside a cement factory) It’s received some good testimonials from

A typical view of one of Exmoor's main roads which are frequently empty of traffic.

Here’s an itinerary for one way to spend a week’s holiday in North Devon. Of course, there’s a lot more to see and do in the area but this should ensure you arrive home with a host of memories and a desire to return to this unspoiled corner of England.

Assuming the itinerary is sufficient to lure you, it also includes recommended holiday cottages in the area for you to consider. Of course, you can only choose one so please accept our apologies for spoiling you for choice!

  Sunday: Buckets, Spades and Culture.

Start your day in the Victorian bucket and spade resort of Ilfracombe. You’ll find plenty of shops piled high with beach equipment – pick up a windbreak while you’re at it. Wander down to the town’s harbourside to visit ‘Verity’, Damien Hirst’s towering statue of a sword-bearing pregnant woman (taller than the Angel of the North) who stands guard at the pier head. Stop off for a snack or full-blown lunch at the Bistro on the Quayside –

An article describing the merits of self-catering holidays in the Peak District, including information about cycle paths and recommended cycle-friendly Peak District holiday cottages.

Here's why the Somerset coast village of Dunster which offers easy access to Exmoor and sandy beaches is a popular destination for self-catering holidays.

Maggie Watson and Ian Ripper run Wheatland Farm, a ‘conservation with accommodation’ project in Devon (that's one of their cottages in the image above). Wheatland Farm has twice won Visit England’s top award for sustainable tourism (2012, 2015).

Maggie says: “Your voice and choice really count in greening tourism. So use reviews to share green holiday destinations, but also don’t be afraid to ask for improvements.”

My Favourite Holiday Cottages asked Maggie’s advice on ways to find and enjoy a relaxing ‘eco-holiday’ without it proving a chore. Here are Maggie’s top ten recommendations for finding the best cottage holiday on earth -that is also kind to the earth. Suffice to say; the Wheatland Farm eco-lodges tick all the boxes!

Holidays should be packed with treasures - sunny memories, fabulous food, and time to recharge.

But would you also like to know your holiday didn’t leave a grubby mark on the glorious countryside you visited?