Dog Friendly Holidays in Alnwick

What's on offer for you and your dog

There are 17 dog friendly stays published on BritStays in the Alnwick area, and every one of them lists Pet Friendly as a facility. Hotels make up most of the set, with 11 to choose from. There are also 3 caravanning options, 2 campsites and 1 cottage, so you can stay in a hotel with a bar downstairs or somewhere simpler outdoors. Beyond the pet-friendly basics, 12 of the stays list parking, 10 have a restaurant and 8 have a bar. Seven offer WiFi, 5 list disabled access, 5 are near a train station and 2 have a playground.

Choosing where to base yourself

Alnwick itself has the most choice, with 7 stays, plus Coalburn Cottage, listed as Alnwick, North East England. Morpeth follows with 4, then Whitley Bay with 3, and Chathill and Blyth with 1 each. The stays differ a lot from one town to the next, so it helps to decide first what kind of trip you want.

• Couples wanting peace and quiet: Coalburn Cottage sleeps 2 and lists WiFi and parking. It's the only cottage in the set, so it suits you if you'd rather have your own front door than a hotel corridor.
• Couples after a treat: Eshott Hall in Morpeth lists a gym, spa and restaurant. Doxford Hall Hotel in Chathill has a swimming pool and restaurant as well as being pet friendly.
• Town-based hotel stays: In Alnwick, The Oaks Hotel and The White Swan Hotel both list a bar, restaurant and pet-friendly rooms. Warkworth House Hotel, listed under Morpeth, offers the same mix.
• Families: The Cottage Inn in Alnwick lists a bar, restaurant and playground. It's one of only two stays in the set with a playground, so book early if that matters to you.
• A livelier evening: The Waterford Arms in Whitley Bay lists evening entertainment alongside a bar and restaurant. The Commissioners Quay Inn in Blyth has a bar, restaurant and disabled access.

If being near the sea is high on your list, check each listing's own location details. Exact distances to beaches vary from stay to stay.

Camping and caravanning with a dog

If you and your dog like to be outdoors, there are five camping and caravanning options. Tranwell Farm Camp Site in Morpeth lists a bar, amusements and disabled access. Riverside Holiday Park Warkworth, also listed under Morpeth, is pet friendly. Old Hartley Caravan Club in Whitley Bay lists disabled access, parking and pet-friendly pitches. Around Alnwick, Walkmill Campsite has toilets, a gift shop and a picnic area. Proctors Stead lists toilets, WiFi and pet-friendly facilities. Facilities at campsites are often basic, so read the listing carefully before you go. Check whether there's anywhere sheltered to dry a wet dog and whether dogs need to stay on a lead around the site.

Things to do once you're there

The area is rich in castles and heritage. Alnwick Castle is the obvious draw if you're staying in town. Morpeth Castle and Bothal Castle are worth adding if you're based around Morpeth, and Seaton Delaval Hall is another heritage option. In Alnwick you'll also find the Northumberland Fusiliers Museum, The Hardy Store & Mesuem and Whitehouse Farm Centre.

Further afield, there's Lindisfarne Priory & Museum at Bamburgh, plus Hay Farm Heavy Horse Centre and Lady Waterford Hall near Berwick-upon-Tweed. You'll also find Corstopitum Visitor's Centre in Northumberland and Newburn Hall Motor Museum in County Durham.

Don't assume your dog will be welcome inside every attraction. Rules often differ between grounds, indoor rooms and cafés. Check each attraction's own policy before you set off, and plan a mix of days. If some places don't allow dogs inside, you can take it in turns to visit while the other person walks the dog.

Booking advice

Seventeen stays sounds like plenty, but the choice narrows quickly once you add your own needs. Only one is a cottage and only two have a playground. Just five list disabled access and five are near a train station. If you need any of these, book as early as you can, especially for school holidays and bank holiday weekends.

Before you confirm, ask the stay these questions directly:

• How many dogs are allowed, and is there a size limit?
• Is there an extra charge per dog or per night?
• Are dogs allowed in the bar or restaurant, or only in bedrooms?
• Can a dog be left alone in the room, even briefly?
• Is there a grassy area nearby for early-morning and late-night walks?

If you're driving, check that parking is listed, as 12 of the 17 stays include it. If you're coming by train, filter for the five stays near a station and ask how easy the last stretch is with a dog and luggage.