Holiday inspiration & travel tips

Norfolk Dog Friendly Days Out

5 dog friendly days out in Norfolk

Norfolk is a well-loved haven for family holidays – especially those with four-legged family members who don’t want to get left at home! The walks are incredible and the beaches welcoming, however, you don’t want to spend your entire trip only going for dog-walks or limiting your sightseeing. Thankfully, these days out in Norfolk are great ways to explore the county and its cultural and natural richness and they are all dog-friendly! 

Fair Haven Woodland & Water Garden

Fair Haven Woodland & Water Garden

There are a number of reasons why Fair Haven Woodland & Water Garden is special – it is visually sensational, bustling with greenery, flowers and water features and it is open to the public throughout the year. There are four miles worth of walking paths weaving through this 130 acre cultivated woodland area, all lined with eye-catching flowers, rare birds and billowing trees that have been standing strong for ages. Dogs are welcome, with a small fee of 25p to cover a poop scoop, and the paths are dotted with water bowls to keep them hydrating throughout adventure-time. You need to keep them on their lead.

Visiting with dogs:

Dogs on leads are welcome all year round.

Website: Fair Haven Woodland & Water Garden 

Fair Haven Woodland & Water Garden

Sheringham Park

Sheringham Park

This National Trust property is one of numerous reasons why Brits adore the National Trust – it is a glorious display of natural beauty, with sea-views from the luscious landscape park and woodland garden. If you were to build a theme-park for dogs, you’d probably make it look pretty similar to Sheringham Park – it has got everything they could possibly need and more, spanning 1000 acres. While you get a chance to learn about the property and its historical significance in Norfolk and along its coastline, your dogs can be let your dogs off their lead so they can really get involved with all the exciting smells and all the new terrain to mark. Just keep an eye on them! 

Visiting with dogs:

Dogs are welcome and must be kept on leads around the visitor facilities and where cattle are grazing.

Website: Sheringham Park

National Trust

Bure Valley Railway

Bure Valley Railway

The Bure Valley Railway is not only home to riveting information on the area’s trains and history, train and boat rides, and other fun activities, but it is also home to the cocker-spaniel-in-residence, Henry. And Henry loves friends. The only place the dogs can’t roam is the Whistlestop Café, otherwise they are welcome everywhere – gift shops and ticket offices included! Even then, there are dog parking hitches in place to ensure your puppy-pal is safe while you enjoy a coffee in the café. The entire property is sprinkled with dog water bowls and a marquee is erected for shade in the Summer months. There’s no reason not to – head with the whole family to Bure Valley Railway and be ready for adventure. 

Visiting with dogs:

Dogs are welcome on our timetabled service trains and to walk beside the line with their owners.

Website: Bure Valley Railway

Bure Valley Railway

Castle Acre Priory

Castle Acre Priory

Dating all the way back to 1090, the Castle Acre Priory is an unmissable cultural attraction when visiting Norfolk. It is regarded as the biggest and best maintained monastic sites in England and is where the first Cluniac order of monks lived. The trouble with a lot of these sorts of culturally enriching experiences is that they aren’t always welcoming to dogs – that’s not something you’ve got to be worried about here, though. Dogs are encouraged to walk around this impressive sight with you and will likely be particularly enchanted by the barn owls, little owls, rabbits and grey squirrels – which, as you probably already know, are great for dogs practicing their chasing but less appealing for the serene wildlife animals, and so dogs are required to be kept on leashes. 

Visiting with dogs:

Dogs on leads allowed all year round.

Website: Castle Acre Priory

English Heritage

Salhouse Broad

Salhouse Broad

The last but certainly not the least of these world-class tourism spots in the Norfolk countryside is the Salhouse Broad. You feel part of a separate, calmer world when exploring the Salhouse Broad. The tranquility is tangible, with nothing but birdsong filling your ears – and perhaps water splashing as your happy dog plays in the gentle water alongside wild and wonderful woods. You can hire canoes and explore from the water, or go by foot on the flat, ancient-oak tree-lined walking paths and boardwalks. There are water tap facilities at various points, as well as lead-free areas for your dogs to play uninhibited. 

Visiting with dogs:

Dogs welcome all year round with plenty of lead-free areas.

Website: Salhouse Broad

Salhouse Broad

Dog friendly cottages in Norfolk

Pear Tree Cottage Main

Pear Tree Cottage
Welcoming 4 guests & 2 dogs, Pear Tree Cottage is available to book from £332 per week.

Meadow View Outside

Meadow View
Welcoming 4 guests & 4 dogs, Meadow View is available to book from £378 per week.

The Hayloft Main

The Hayloft
Welcoming 4 guests & 4 dogs, The Hayloft is available to book from £424 per week.

View all our dog friendly cottages in Norfolk