Holden Farm caught my eye as a stop off on the way to the West Country from Kent - it was the most well organised in the communal area I think I have ever seen but the field we stayed in looked so natural with tents round the edge (we were in a camper van) and big green space in the middle, no pitches as such.
There is an information area and maps to show you the walk to The Flower Pots Inn in Alresford SO24 0QQ which had a stunning beer garden with lots of space for the doggies and was a lovely walk through the country to get there so doubled as a dog walk.
Highly recommended by The Dog Advisor Kent 2024
Ashen Cross Holiday Cottages
Cornwall
Ashen Cross Holiday Cottages Cornwall have both a 1 and 2 bedroom dog-friendly cottage, both beautiful stone built barns with a woodburner for the winter and a weber barbeque for the summer! And a private space outside each cottage for a late night and/or early morning toilet trip!
Ashen Cross have their own land to walk your dog from the cottage and lots of dog-friendly beaches nearby for days out - Hannafore, Lansallos, Portnadler and Lantic Bay are all within easy reach and dog friendly throughout the year requiring various levels of fitness and enthusiasm for romping access. Tracy and Geoff are on hand to advise on days out with your dog.
Home baking twice a week for the hoomans and a dog welcome pack for the dogs, you and your dog will be spoilt at Ashen Cross!
Dog-friendly Holidays across the channel
The gorgeous Jess loving her life in France on a motorhome holiday touring with her family
Jess's family recommend the searchforsites app if you are in a motorhome or camper. Jess pictured here at a village aire. Aires range massively from free car parks to paid for facilities.
TRANSPORT OPTIONS
EUROTUNNEL
The Eurotunnel is simpler in that your dog(s) can stay with you in your vehicle.
FERRY
If you prefer a ferry, historically dogs stay in the car while you go up into the ferry and you may not be comfortable with this. Some ferry operators now have a pet lounge, for example P and O Ferries has a pet lounge with an outdoor exercise area, an add-on to your ticket without which your dog must stay in your vehicle. On DFDS ferries, your pet must stay in the vehicle.
Information correct as at September 2024
PAPERWORK!
So you are travelling from Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) across the English Channel to France or the Netherlands for a holiday with 5 dogs or less!
There is some paperwork however, the order is important!
* These are basic instructions as a guide. Please do your own research depending on where you are travelling to, information correct as at 22nd September 2024.
- Your dog must be microchipped
- Your dog must be vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days before travel
- Your dog requires an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from a vet.
- The AHC needs to be issued within a 10 day period prior to travel and is valid for 4 months for onward travel within the EU and for reentry into Great Britain.
- You'll need to go through a traveller's point of entry on the other side and prove microchip, rabies. You should get "Section 8" of your AHC completed,
signed and stamped by a border official of the EU country you are entering, so France or the Netherlands. For Eurotunnel this is done after you've gone through French Passport Control at Folkestone, not pet reception. On the ferry,
it is signed on arrival
- You'll need to get tapeworm treatment at a vet within 5 days but not less than 24 hours of your arrival back in Great Britain. This must be recorded in your AHC.
* If you are on Facebook suggest joining the AHC Animal Health Certificate U.K. group and check the latest guidance on gov.uk.
** There are some companies that do AHCs at a reduced rate compared to vets, for example Abbeywell Folkestone and Easy Pet Travel Ashford
*** Great Britain issued Pet Passports are no longer valid in the EU.
**** The tapeworm treatment for your return to Great Britain must be approved for use in the country it’s being given in and contain praziquantel
or an equivalent proven to be effective against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm
Europe Tapeworm Vet Map
This map has been created by an unverified third party but gives markers for vets on the continent that you can contact. Move the map to see France!