Dog-friendly holidays: hotels, campsites and holiday parks

There are lots of cheap holiday deals around, but what if you want to take the family pooch with you? Kennels cost can be high so we've found some of the best dog-friendly hotels, holiday parks, campsites (and even canalboats) around so you can holiday with your pet.

Pooper scoopers included Dogs are welcome at all four Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks, close to the beaches of north Devon (main picture). The self-catering caravan holiday homes, apartments, lodges and camping/touring pitches are located near to footpaths or exercise areas and their 'Woof Guide' includes best walks, dog-friendly pubs and even details of local vets. They even provide a dog bed, healthy treats, toys and pooper scoopers. Visit: www.woolacombe.com or call 0843 2080 388

Camping with dogs Camping, caravan and holiday parks website Pitchup.com lists over 3,890 dog-friendly UK campsites and caravan parks. One of their most popular ones is Hedley Wood caravan and camping park (pictured) in Devon. Winner of The Kennel Club's award for Somewhere to Camp, there's no extra charge for dogs, plus an exercise area, mile-long dog walk and on-site kennel if you need a dog day off. You can find more dog-friendly sites too. Visit: www.pitchup.com

Luxury - with your pet The five-star Woodovis Park in the peaceful Tamar Valley on the Devon/Cornwall border is great for kids but also perfect for dogs with its dedicated tree-lined dog walking path and Dog Wash area. They have also introduced a dog-friendly meadow where four-legged friends can roam free. Other facilities include a heated pool, spa pool, sauna and shop selling freshly baked bread. Accommodation is varied from luxury holiday homes to 50 spacious pitches (including all-weather pitches) and a camping pod including two super-pods which sleep four. Dogs are also welcome in many shops, cafes and pubs in the nearby market town of Tavistock. Visit: www.woodovis.com or call 01822 832 968

The more the merrier... The Barn (pictured), a newly converted 18th century barn near the Brechfa Forest in the Welsh county of Carmarthenshire, has been designed with the four-legged friend in mind. It sleeps four and best of all, you can bring as many dogs as you like. The Barn provides food, water bowls and towels as well as blankets, beds, toys and dog crates - so you only need to sort yourself and the kids out. There's an enclosed garden and designated dog walks on the owners' land - dog training is also offered. Visit: www.holidayinthebarn.co.uk or call 01267 202 440

Farm holidays Dogs are welcome at The Dandelion Hideaway, located on a 250-acre working farm on the edge of Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire. Some of the 'canvas' cottages have gated terraces and dogs receive their own welcome pack with an Emma Bridgewater dog bowl and a jar of dog treats. There's a dedicated field on the farm where dogs can run free too. Kids will love being on a farm, from watching the goats being milked, helping groom the Shetland ponies or collecting freshly laid eggs for breakfast. You can walk the dog to The Gate That Hangs Well public house where dogs are allowed inside too. Two dogs are allowed per cottage. Visit: www.thedandelionhideaway.co.uk or call 01455 292 888

Dog-friendly Lake District Self-catering agency, Lakelovers, offers 150 cottages which are dog-friendly - some even welcome two for no extra charge. The cottages are located in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria around the central and southern lakes. Dog-friendly properties include Mill Cottage which dates back to the 17th century and sleeps two in the hamlet of Ings two miles from Windermere. Two dogs can stay in three-bedroom listed Lion Cottage (pictured) which sleeps six in the pretty village of Grasmere. Visit: www.lakelovers.co.uk or call 015394 88855

Yorkshire holidays for dogs For a cheap holiday, Yorkshire Cottages has no extra charge for holidaymakers who want to bring a dog to any of its dog-friendly properties. There are lots to choose from such as the two-bedroom Conway Cottage which sleeps four and permits two dogs. Features include original beams, wooden floors and a traditional fireplace and the cottage is located in the south Yorkshire Dales village of Cracoe, near Grassington. There are lots of riverside walks to enjoy with man's best friend and an enclosed back garden. Weeklong stays in autumn start from £345. Visit: www.yorkshire-cottages.info or call 01228 406 701

All-aboard If your pooch loves the water, how about a holiday on a canal boat or river cruiser? Specialist boating holiday agency, Waterways Holidays, has a massive choice of UK boating holidays, some dog-friendly, like the spacious 55-foot long, wide-beam narrowboat, Topsy (pictured) on the Kennet and Avon canal. It sleeps six (2 in the lounge) and has two double cabins with silk-filled duvets and Egyptian cotton sheets. Other features include a 'smart' Freeview TV with on-demand movies, welcome hamper, modern kitchen and mobile wifi. Based at Bath Marina, it's great for exploring the city and the canal. A week's hire includes all fuel used during the cruise, bed linen, towels, car parking, buoyancy aids, tuition on arrival and wifi. Visit: www.waterwaysholidays.com or call 01252 339 023

Pet-friendly in Pembrokeshire Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire has a special website, www.thewoofguide.com which highlights its selection of pet-friendly properties. Cottages are given a 'paw' rating for their suitability for five categories of pet with extra information on which nearby beaches, restaurant, pubs and activities are pooch-friendly. Dog-friendly cottages include include Dill Cottage, sleeping five in three bedrooms (one ensuite) in the village of Pen Y Cwm near Newgale beach. The cottage is set in an enclosed garden and is close to a nearby track leading to the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path and a secluded cove. Guests are welcomed with complimentary drinks and toiletries - even pets get their own goodies such as treats, toys and blankets. Visit: www.coastalcottages.co.uk or call 01437 772 760

Cottage life Classic Cottages has 308 dog-friendly holiday cottages across southwest England including the Horseshoe Cottage which sleeps four in the Tamar valley on the edge of Dartmoor. It's ideal for walks in the nearby fields or at one of the nearby beaches, Bude and Widemouth Bay on the north coast. Also dog-friendly with lots of walking opportunities is Headford Farm Cottage near Taunton, Somerset, which sleeps two. Visit: www.classic.co.uk or call 01326 555 555

Holiday parks Holiday parks are perfect for cheap holidays with your pet. Hoseasons has lots of parks all over the UK, from the north of Scotland to the sunny south of England, and are pooch friendly. Visit: www.hoseasons.co.uk or call 0844 847 1100.

Haven welcomes dogs in their Standard or Standard Plus Holiday Homes at all parks except Burnham-on-Sea, Riviere Sands. Visit: www.haven.com or call 0871 230 1900