With miles of breathtaking landscapes, fewer places are better than the Cotswolds for a holiday with your four-legged companion. After a day of running through fields and exploring pretty villages, you’ll need somewhere to stay that accommodates dirty paws. And while you’re in the Cotswolds, what could be better than a quaint cottage? Keep reading for the finest dog-friendly cottages in the Cotswolds, selected by our travel experts at Plum Guide.
The Old Village Mill
The Old Village Mill, Plum Guide home in the Cotswolds
Located in the market town of Minchinhampton, this stunning home is ideal for a group of eight guests. Made up of two side-by-side cottages, there are plenty of cosy spaces to unwind and relax with friends and family. The bedrooms are a generous size, each with its own ensuite – you’ll want to place dibs on the two with the roll-top baths, the perfect spot to soak your muscles after a long day of walking in the countryside. When the weather’s good, challenge your guests to a tennis match on the courts. Dogs will love running around on the extensive lawn, while kids can swing from the trees and visit the chickens. When everyone gets hungry, prepare your favourite dishes in the kitchen – there are two to choose from – before serving dinner in the cartshed that’s been converted into a semi-outdoor dining area.
Gathering Nuts
Gathering Nuts, Plum Guide home in the Cotswolds
This is one of our favourite dog-friendly cottages in the Cotswolds. Set on a working farm, this Grade II-listed cottage has been tastefully renovated to provide the perfect base to explore the countryside. There are multiple walks right from your doorstep, while Cirencester is just a fifteen-minute drive away. If you just want a lazy day at home, the cottage is a wonderful place for it. Take an easy stroll down to the small lake behind the home and entertain the kids and dogs with ball games on the field. Back at the cottage, enjoy long soaks in the hot tub with its tranquil views of the greenery before sitting down to a meal at the alfresco dining area. If it’s too chilly, gather around the fireplace in the snug living room instead.
Casa de Cotswolds
Casa de Cotswolds, Plum Guide home in the Cotswolds
Travelling with a large group? This gorgeous Oxfordshire cottage is deceivingly spacious, with four large bedrooms and multiple chill-out spots. Choosing which one to relax in will prove difficult – both the lounges feature wood burners and plush sofas and armchairs, while the third living room is a mezzanine loft space above one of the bedrooms, best for when you need a quiet moment to yourself. Keen cooks will be tempted to use the sleek kitchen, while seats around the island are great for socialising. As cosy as the home is inside, it was also made for warm weather, with an elegant terrace complete with a barbecue, hot tub, fire pit and dining area. Can’t decide whether to eat in or out? Have it both ways in the dining room, its bi-fold glass doors bringing the outside in.
The Traveller’s Tale
The Traveller's Tale, Plum Guide home in the Cotswolds
Tucked away in the village of Bledington, this stone cottage is Grade II-listed and features wooden beams, inglenook fireplaces and cosy window seats. It's the ideal getaway for a family or group of friends to get together, whether you're sharing stories in the comfy lounges (yes, there's more than one) or sharing meals in the light-filled conservatory. Outside, the home has a generous garden for younger members of the family and four-legged friends – it's also great for barbecues, which you can tuck into at the alfresco dining table. You may be perfectly content just relaxing at home, but if you want to stretch your legs, the Oxfordshire Way is nearby and the villages of Chipping Norton and Stow-on-the-Wold are just a short drive away.
The Dursley Cottage
The Dursley Cottage, Plum Guide home in the Cotswolds
Searching for dog-friendly cottages in the Cotswolds with a touch of luxury? Without compromising its 19th-century charm, this stunning home has been renovated with all the home comforts of the 21st century. You’ll find four sumptuous bedrooms, each one boasting serene views of the lawns and trees on the grounds. If you’ve worked your way through the welcome basket and the well-equipped kitchen can’t tempt you to use it, you can always hire a private chef to cook up a feast for you and your guests. Alternatively, take a ten-minute drive into the market town of Dursley, where an excellent selection of eateries await. Tetbury, Nailsworth and Uley are also a short drive away. Back at home, take a luxurious soak in the freestanding tub before settling down with a glass of wine in the snug lounge.
Charm Of The Countryside
Charm Of The Countryside, Plum Guide home in the Cotswolds
Despite being just under half an hour drive from Oxford, this cottage will have you feeling like you’re deep in the countryside. It’s perfect for a family, with two full-sized bedrooms and a room with bunk beds. The garden extends all the way back, with more than enough room for ball games. There’s even a climbing frame for little ones, while adults can keep an eye on them from the alfresco hot tub. You’ll want to spend most of your time out here, grilling lunch on the barbecue and sipping cocktails on the sun loungers. If you’re visiting during the cooler months, the home’s comfy lounge is a warm and inviting space to relax. When you fancy a day out, the magnificent Blenheim Palace is just an eighteen-minute drive away.
Mercia
Mercia, Plum Guide home in the Cotswolds
This four-bedroom home in the market town of Winchcombe has bags of character. You wouldn’t guess it, but behind its 16th-century pastel yellow facade lies a spacious garden that seemingly extends all the way to the Isbourne Valley and Sudeley Hill. There’s a large patio where you can fire up the grill, while the little ones can explore the nooks and crannies of the garden. Inside, the cottage has plenty of original features, such as stone walls, inglenook fireplaces and wooden beams. The ample living space features French doors so you can snuggle up and take in the views even when it’s too cold to venture out, while the snug is ideal for evening reading by the wood burner. While the modern kitchen has everything you need to cook up your favourite comfort dishes, you’re just a few minutes walk from award-winning pubs and restaurants should you want to take the night off.
Honeycomb Cottage
Honeycomb Cottage, Plum Guide home in the Cotswolds
This one-bedroom home is one of our most romantic dog-friendly cottages in the Cotswolds. Everything has been designed to maximise the views, from the moment you wake up to enjoying a nightcap on the terrace. Take your breakfast outside and go over your plans for the day – will it be a walk around Critchley Hill or a spa day in nearby Cheltenham? For something a little different, your host can arrange fun couple’s activities like foraging, wine tasting and yoga. Perhaps you’d like to toss all your plans out the window and simply revel in the beauty of your surroundings by getting stuck into your holiday read in the hammock or sipping a glass of bubbly in the hot tub. Even when the weather isn’t playing ball, floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room mean you never have to miss out on the views.
Vale Of Roses
Vale Of Roses, Plum Guide home in the Cotswolds
Just a ten-minute drive from Burford, this delightful cottage offers plenty of opportunities for some R&R. Surrounded by undulating fields, you’ll naturally want to disconnect here. The garden stretches as far as the eye can see, with plenty of tucked-away corners for an afternoon of reading. When you start getting hungry, the terrace was made for barbecues and long lazy lunches. Inside, original features such as period fireplaces and Cotswold stone blend with modern comforts like a range cooker and a roll-top bath. You won’t find a better place to get cosy after a day of walking in the countryside. And when you’re ready for some shut-eye, there are three beautifully furnished double bedrooms to choose from, as well as one with bunk beds, which is just right for smaller members of the family.
Mrs Daffodil
Mrs Daffodil, Plum Guide home in the Cotswolds
As if plucked right out of a storybook, this 1624 thatched cottage is a charming lovenest for two (plus any furry members of the family). Despite your rural surroundings, you’re just under a fifteen-minute drive from Cirencester and Tetbury. After a day of exploring, come home and cook a hearty dinner in the homely kitchen before snuggling up on the sofa by the fireplace. On warmer days, you can even sit outside in the garden, admiring the peaceful views of the fields. Don’t feel like cooking at all? Your host can arrange a private chef to cook up a romantic meal for you and your other half. End the night with a spot of stargazing before running a soothing bubble bath in the freestanding tub.
