If your dog could choose his perfect break, Laverock Multi-dog Holiday Cottages could be top of the list!
Situated on a private farm in fantastic dog-walking country in Teesdale, near Barnard Castle, Laverock Cottages consist of two converted byres dating back to the 1700s.
Each sleeps up to four people, with a sofa bed for a fifth person if required, and you can take up to four dogs per cottage free of charge.
The 50-acre farm is situated in the North Pennines AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), and Unesco Global Geopark, so be prepared for outstanding views and beautiful, undiscovered walking country.
“Happy dogs make for happy owners,” said Laverock’s Mandy Bainbridge, as she explained what makes this the perfect getaway for dogs and their owners. “Our holidaymakers come to Laverock because they love to go on holiday with their dogs — they are part of the family — and they want their dogs to have as much fun as they do.
“Our cottages were built with dogs in mind; we have dog shower rooms built onto each cottage with grooming tables and professional blasters, non-slip floors for the oldies, enclosed gardens with furniture to admire the views, a six-acre stock-fenced dog play field and, for the escape artists, a 6ft-high deer-fenced paddock, as well as
a 120ft indoor dog agility arena.
“We have fells, reservoirs, rivers, High Force Waterfall, and Hamsterley Forest all around us, and Laverock backs onto a 6,000-acre fell.
“The local towns and villages have many dog-friendly shops and pubs, and the people are very friendly too.”
Testament to Laverock’s dog-friendliness and overall hospitality is the number of repeat bookings.
“We are very lucky to have fabulous guests who leave lovely compliments and often chocolates and thank you cards as well,” said Mandy. “Our biggest problem is our guests demanding squatters’ rights! Feedback includes how welcoming the cottages are for the dogs, how much there is to do, and how the owners have had a very relaxing holiday as the dogs have all been crashed out at night exhausted!”
If you are a Your Dog Member you will get a FREE 30 minute hire of the indoor dog agility arena. CLICK HERE to go to the offer.
Join the Membership for just £9.99 a year HERE!
The Cottage
Did you know?
Laverock Cottages are also ideally situated for exploring the Yorkshire Dales (30 minutes away) and the Lake District (one hour away).
Laverock Cottages are set in beautiful countryside with sights such as the High Force Waterfall not far away.
Try agility
Your Dog members can enjoy a free 30-minute hire of Laverock’s agility arena during their stay (just state you are a Your Dog member on booking, and present your membership card on arrival).
“The agility arena is our ‘pièce de résistance’ and we are very proud of it,” explained Mandy.
The popular agility arena.
“Agility is a great sport for dogs and owners and it really builds up a bond. It’s suitable for most dogs, although there are some exceptions; negotiating the equipment would be unsafe for very big-boned, heavy dogs, those who are tall, or obviously those with health or mobility problems.
“Visitors who are new to agility can book a lesson where we start with the basics, as safety is paramount, but by the end of the lesson most dogs are capable of negotiating three jumps and a tunnel much to the delight of their owners.
“Agility is also great for dogs who cannot usually have lots of off-lead freedom as it’s a 120ft-long steel building, and once the doors are shut it is totally escape-proof. The lessons are all based on fun, and it’s not unusual to have owners crawling through the tunnels to entice their dogs with treats and toys!
“We are also very proud to have bred the Crufts agility champions for the last four years, as well as half of Agility Team GB so we do know what we are talking about!”