Dog Friendly Cottages in North Wales
With a whole host of hillside hikes, seaside attractions and beautiful beaches, North Wales is a must-visit for a fun-filled dog-friendly staycation. The vast region is the perfect destination for a getaway with your four-legged friend and there are lots of holiday cottages, country cottages and holiday homes that accept pets.
The rugged landscape of North Wales is home to the world-famous Snowdonia National Park and Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales, which offers breathtaking views across the rolling hills and countryside. The region boasts stunning sandy beaches and charming villages and towns including Anglesey, Llandudno and Rhyl.
There is a wide variety of pet-friendly cottages across North Wales and a whole host of special offers to make the most of if you’re planning a visit with pooch. Whether you’re looking for a cute and charming terrace cottage to curl up in front of the fire or a North Wales cottage with its very own hot tub, there’s something for everyone here on Dog Friendly Cottages.
Best dog-friendly walks in North Wales
Wales Coast Path
Best for: Sea views
Distance: 12.9km
Time to complete: Four hours
The 870-mile Wales Coast Path runs the whole length of the Welsh coastline. In the North of Wales, dogs and their humans can enjoy views of the Bay of Ceredigion from Abersoch through Llanbedrog and ending in Pwllheli. The route is straightforward underfoot and takes in beautiful beaches, charming villages and magical headlands as the path clings to the Welsh Coast.
Llyn Peninsula
Best for: Wild exploration
Distance: 10.3km
Time to complete: Three and a half hours
The Llyn Peninsula, also known as ‘Snowdon’s Arm’, is home to many public footpaths, dog walks and hiking routes. At just over 10km, the route around the 490m-high summit of Gyrn Goch and neighbouring Gyrn Ddu offers walkers the chance to explore these lowly coastal hills. But, with wild surroundings and poorly marked footpaths, this is a challenging walk best suited to fine navigators.
Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest
Best for: Family fun in the forest
Distance: 7km
Time to complete: Three hours
The Corsican pine trees that make up Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest, on the Isle of Anglesey, are a haven for wildlife including the rare native red squirrel. Follow the Saint, Sand and Sea Trail from the beach car park through the forest, dunes and over to the island of Ynys Llanddwyn at low tide.
Llanberis Path
Best for: Climbing Snowdon
Distance: 14.4km
Time to complete: Five - six hours
There are many walking routes to choose from around Snowdon and across Snowdonia National Park. Llanberis Path runs parallel to the mountain railway and is regarded as one of the easiest routes to the peak but is a challenge for only the fittest dogs as it can be rocky underfoot and climbs 3,200 feet!
Great Orme
Best for: Seaside summit
Distance: 2.4km
Time to complete: 90 minutes
Llandudno’s ‘mini mountain’, Great Orme, is a limestone headland overlooking the Victorian seaside resort. Great Orme Country Park has a choice of scenic, waymarked walking routes up to the peak. The 2.4km-long Happy Valley Trail is the longest of the paths and offers beautiful views out to sea and down to the bustling town of Llandudno below.
Best dog-friendly beaches in North Wales
Aberffraw Dunes and Traeth Mawr Beach
Best for: Exploring the sand dunes
Aberffraw Dunes and Traeth Mawr Beach is an open stretch of sand in Aberffraw Bay, less than 10 miles from Anglesey. The beach is the perfect place for paddling and playing fetch. Low sand dunes are set back from the waves lapping on the shore and lead all the way to the village which boasts shops and eateries.
Harlech Beach
Best for: Golden sands
The golden sands of Harlech Beach stretch for four miles along the Bay of Ceredigion with views inland to Snowdonia’s peaks. The beach - just north of Llanfair and Llandanwg - is fringed by grassy sand dunes with Harlech Castle (a World Heritage Site) jutting out of the landscape nearby.
Talacre Beach
Best for: Lighthouse landmark
Talacre Beach stretches around the northern tip of Wales, just outside Prestatyn and across the River Dee from the Wirral. The 18m-tall decommissioned Point of Ayr Lighthouse, dating back to 1776, is the key landmark here but the beach is also the ideal spot for a run alongside your canine chum or even a game of frisbee.
Rhyl Beach
Best for: Low tide
Rhyl Beach is a two-mile stretch of sand that grows even vaster as the tide goes out to reveal a wide beach scattered with small pools of water. This traditional seaside spot is also home to a promenade complete with amusement arcades, crazy golf and an aquarium. Dogs are welcome outside of peak season (May to September) so if your pet wants to come too make sure you check the calendar and the tides!
Colwyn Bay Beach
Best for: Activities for the whole family
The three-mile Colwyn Bay Beach - also known as Rhos-on-Sea - is a great place to pitch up the loungers and spend the day paddling, fishing and swimming. Dogs can play on the beach while the family enjoy watersports. There are also walking routes and cycling paths nearby. Part of the beach operates dog restrictions from May to September so look out for the signs.
Things to do in North Wales
Plas yn Rhiw
Best for: Beautiful gardens
Plas yn Rhiw is a beautiful manor house and ornamental gardens dating back to the 16th century. Just outside Rhiw, the National Trust property overlooks the bay and is home to a quaint tea room serving snacks and treats. While there are dog restrictions in the house and gardens, your pooch is welcome to join you to follow the pretty paths weaving through the lower woodland.
Llanberis Lake Railway
Best for: A relaxing ride
For a relaxing ride through Snowdonia National Park, look no further than the charming steam trains that trundle along the Llanberis Lake Railway. The locomotives chug five miles past Dolbadarn Castle, through Padarn Country Park and past Llanberis’ twin lakes. Dogs can ride too for just £1 per pooch.
Sygun Copper Mine
Best for: Underground adventures
If your cheeky canine is a keen digger then Sygun Copper Mine is bound to be up his street. Here, the whole family can take a glimpse inside a Victorian mine. The self-guided tour takes in three levels of caving systems connected by steep staircases so this is only suitable for dogs who are comfortable clambering up and down steps.
Bala Watersports
Best for: Getting wet and wild!
Bala, a small market town in Gwynedd, is home to Bala Watersports - an outdoor adventure based on the town’s lake. The family-run firm offers lots of fun activities from archery and abseiling to windsurfing and sailing. But the best part - dogs are welcome to join in too! Your pooch can hop in a canoe or join you for a paddleboard so no one feels left out.
Criccieth Castle
Best for: Stepping back in time
Criccieth Castle commands a seat high on the cliffs with views across Cardigan Bay. The ruins - built by Llywelyn the Great in the 13th century and later reduced to ruins by Owain Glyndŵr. The historic fortress is now a popular visitor attraction thanks to its fascinating past and beautiful views. Dogs on leads are welcome to explore the ground floor levels with their owners.