With wide expanses of water bordering traditional Norfolk towns and grassy banks, the Norfolk Broads have been attracting dog parents for a long time.
From waterside walking trails to pet-friendly boat trips available on the water, the Norfolk Broads are the ideal place for a dog-friendly holiday. That’s not to mention the dog-friendly pubs and the rural trails back on land.
There’s no debate as to whether the Norfolk Broads National Park is an outdoor paradise. Explore the water by boat, kayak, canoe or paddleboard, and cycle or hike the many trails that trace the water’s edge. Butterflies and waterbirds are all drawn to the Norfolk Broads, making it a dreamscape for wildlife watchers or anyone who owns a pair of binoculars. At the same time, there’s plenty of history and culture in the area, with abbeys, mills, castles, steam railways and historic houses scattered around the beautiful national park. Staying in one of the following dog-friendly holiday cottages in the Norfolk Broads doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice the fabulous beaches and rolling sand dunes of the beautiful east coast either. Beaches, coastal trails and basking seals are always just a short drive away, along with seaside resorts such as Great Yarmouth.
6 Unbeatable Dog-Friendly Cottages in the Norfolk Broads:
1. Swan Dyke Cottage (Horning, Wroxham)
2. Foundry Cottage (Reedham, Norfolk)
3. The Lodge (Wroxham, Norfolk)
4. Kingsley Cottage (Stalham, Norfolk)
5. Drifters (Winterton-On-Sea, Norfolk)
6. Birch Cottage (Brundall, Norfolk)
Swan Dyke Cottage
Location: Horning, Wroxham
Best for: A peaceful waterfront cottage in the picturesque village of Horton
Imagine a place where sitting on the garden bench gives you a view of water lilies, green trees and a peaceful section of the Norfolk Broads. Swan Dyke Cottage, a four-bedroom, pet-friendly holiday cottage, is exactly that. Described as a ‘waterfront chalet’, the property belongs to the ancient Broads village of Horning, which sits on the River Bure and is famed for its traditional waterside pubs and tea rooms. The village has country lanes for guests to walk their four-legged friends and plenty of pet-friendly boat hire or boat trip organisations should they want to explore the wider national park from the water.
Surrounded by countryside, marshland and woodlands, Swan Dyke Cottage is not only peaceful, but it also attracts plenty of native wildlife. Down a private road, there’s no one to disturb the peace, at least until you’re ready to branch out into the beautiful Norfolk coast or the busy parts of the national park. Wroxham, a village which is often referred to as the ‘capital of the Norfolk Broads’ due to its busy boatyards and steam railway, is only a 15 minutes’ drive away from the pet-friendly self-catering accommodation too.
Facilities: Seize the day with a morning coffee at the bottom of the garden, gazing over the Broads. Once the family is well-fed using the modern equipment in the kitchen, one option is to take the family’s bicycles out of the bike storage facility and set off onto the local nature trails. If you fancy a lazier morning, you could prop your feet up in the old-fashioned living room, or take a soak in the bathtub. An array of board games and books are provided in the cottage for the competitive or book-mad family members.
Foundry Cottage
Location: Reedham, Norfolk
Best for: Pet-friendly holidays in a traditional Broads village
Tearing yourself away from Foundry Cottage is the tricky part. With cosy furnishings and a quaint, colourful backyard, the two-bedroom holiday cottage has a way of keeping people cosy. A reminder that you’re based in Reedham, a traditional Norfolk village on the River Yare, should be enough to stir some action. A lazy-looking meandering country lane leads the way to the River Yure and miles of green fields. When you’re feeling peckish, the village’s pub, Lord Nelson, and the Reedham Chip Shop are both within walking distance too.
Reedham was once a coastal village, and while it isn’t anymore, the existing Norfolk coast is only a short drive away. However, with areas to fish, birdwatch, kayak and paddleboard in the local area, guests will see plenty of water without going further afield. Acquaint yourself with the craft beers and local gins at the village brewery, and take any kids to the Pettitts Animal Adventure Park, where there are hands-on activities available with the animals. Whether you like to walk or cycle with your canine companion, there are plenty of suitable routes for any furry family members too.
Facilities: Foundry Cottage is inviting from the offset. The white-painted front door is surrounded by potted plants, and the brick exterior gives the immediate impression of a traditional cosy cottage. This rings true in the interior too, where there’s a small living room with a wall-mounted TV and an adjoining kitchen with blue-painted cupboards and a quaint dining table. A free-standing bathtub awaits in the upstairs bathroom, and out back, there’s a small, enclosed gravel space with a couple of deckchairs and room for dogs to do their business.
The Lodge
Location: Wroxham, Norfolk
Best for: A stylish four-bedroom getaway in the capital of the Norfolk Broads
Finding holiday cottages for eight people can be a tricky task. Add in a canine companion, and it’s even more difficult. Handily, The Lodge doesn’t compromise on comfort, space or style. Merging traditional features with modern comforts, the four-bedroom cottage is pet friendly and suitable for eight people. It’s based in the so-called ‘capital of the Norfolk Broads’, Wroxham, a sought-out destination by adventure lovers, foodies and budding sailors alike. Boat hire, watersports, walking trails, wildlife reserves and unique food venues won’t be hard to track down.
The Lodge combines a Broads, coastal and rural retreat all in one. Following the river in a boat, you will soon pass by the Bure Marshes National Nature Reserve, St Benet’s Abbey and How Trill Trust. Another way to get around is by steam train; within walking distance of the village is the Bure Valley Railway station, a heritage station which has steam train rides available through the beautiful Norfolk Broads. Great Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast is only a 25-minute drive away from the property too.
Facilities: The Lodge doesn’t lack anything when it comes to traditional features. There’s a relaxing woodburning stove, a bunk bed room on the ground floor and a few exposed beams. At the same time, the property is wonderfully contemporary, with a fashionable patio located outside, a sleek kitchen and modern bathrooms. One well-behaved canine companion is welcome, and they are likely to enjoy the ample space on the lawn. A patio furniture set and a summerhouse is the perfect place to keep an eye on them while they play, with another eye on the sky in case of passing birdlife or a swirling orange sunset.
Kingsley Cottage
Location: Stalham, Norfolk
Best for: Stay in the market town of Stalham with your four legged friend
Kingsley Cottage is a relaxing introduction to the Norfolk Broads. Based in Stalham, a market town home to the Museum of the Broads and the Stalham Firehouse Museum, the three-bedroom dog-friendly accommodation is on the River Ant on the northern edge of the Norfolk Broads and only four miles away from a sandy beach on the Norfolk Coast. Budding historians are well-based at Kingsley Cottage due to its proximity to the Museum of Broadland Life, the only of its kind in the national park.
Nearby, visit Sutton Mill, a nine-storey corn mill, before moving on to the Sutton Pottery centre to try your hand at making a pot or a bowl from scratch. With mooring sites across Stalham and Sutton, there are plenty of places to launch a watercraft. Sea Palling is the nearest sandy beach, located 10 minutes’ drive away, and has sand dunes, safe bathing shallows and watersports for the adventurous types. Further south is Horsey Gap, where seals stay on the beach year-round.
Facilities: With irregular mobile signal and a long back garden covered in plenty of greenery, Kingsley Cottage is a great place for a digital detox. There are no distractions in the end-terrace, unless you want to count your two well-behaved dogs roaming around the enclosed garden, sunset drinks on the patio or the books, games and Freeview TV provided in the living room. With roadside parking for two too, this is one of the best holiday cottages in the Norfolk Broads.
Drifters
Location: Winterton-On-Sea, Norfolk
Best for: A dog-friendly holiday home with a hot tub and sea views
At the end of the Drifters backyard is a path to the open ocean. Located within easy driving distance of the Norfolk Broads in the east coast Norfolk village of Winterton-On-Sea, the fashionable four-bedroom cottage has views of sand dunes and the ocean. With a mile of sand, the sandy beach in Winterton-on-Sea is also dog friendly. Accessing the Norfolk countryside and Area of Outstanding Beauty is easy, as the village is on the edge of the Norfolk Broads.
Whether you drive to Hickling Broad, South Walsham Broad, or further afield to Horning and Wroxham, Drifters is designed for adventures on the Broads and the coast. The Ship Inn in Caister-on-Sea is only a 10 minutes’ drive south of the pet-friendly home. Considered to be one of the best dog-friendly pubs in the area, it has local real ales such as Woodfordes, brewed coffees and a large beer garden.
Facilities: Drifters has four bedrooms, including a kingsize with an ensuite, a second kingsize, a twin and a bunk bed room. The living room is incredibly spacious, something which is often lacking in some pet-friendly holiday cottages. A relaxing break is almost guaranteed, considering the scenic conservatory space and the hot tub that lies on the outdoor patio. Take a soak with sea views whenever you please – hot tubs with such a spectacular view are very rare.
Birch Cottage
Location: Brundall, Norfolk
Best for: Self-catering accommodation a short drive from Norwich
Searching for a central place to stay within easy driving distance of Norwich city and the Norfolk Broads? Located in the rural village of Brundall, Birch Cottage is just a couple of minutes from the nearest river. Quiet country lanes lead the way to market towns, villages and dog-friendly attractions. To add to that, the historic city of Norwich is only a 10-minute drive from the cottage.
You may want to take a tour of Norwich to visit the 11th-century cathedral, Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, or the historic gates of St Ethelbert’s and Erpingham. The Norfolk Broads has a range of different attractions, including Burgh Castle’s marina and fishery, Whitlingham Country Park, BeWILDerwood Norfolk and the historic Bure Valley Railway. After a day’s worth of exploring, catch your breath and refuel in the village’s East Hills Café Bistro.
Facilities: Birch Cottage is designed for a sociable getaway. An open-plan living area makes it so that guests can speak to each other from the kitchen or curled up on the corner sofa in the living room. The gazebo brings this atmosphere into the garden. Patio doors lead to an arrangement of outdoor furniture, including sunloungers in case the sun decides to show its face and the gazebo-covered dining table. A woodburning stove adds character to the living room, and if one smart TV just doesn’t cut it, there’s also a projector or a cinema room.
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Please note that some of the images in this blog post have been provided by Sykes Cottages.