PET FRIENDLY SELF CATERING IN HARROGATE
Rent a Cottage or Apartment in Harrogate as a Base for a Pet-Friendly Time.
Harrogate is an ideal base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales and has many worthwhile attractions of its own. Famous as a spa town, it has long been a tourist destination. Today, welcoming holiday cottages combine tradition with modern amenities, and it’s no problem to bring your pet along to accommodation advertising itself as pet-friendly.
Whether you want to be in the town itself or in more rustic surroundings nearby, there are plenty of accommodation choices. However, some may charge a modest supplement for your pet to stay. This is a small price to pay in every sense, as your family won’t want to leave your pet out of the holiday experience. Some accommodation even has facilities to stable your horse!
Harrogate has lots of green spaces for both humans and animals to enjoy. Recommended by dog owners as a good place for a run, Valley Gardens covers 17 acres. As well as beautiful flower beds to enjoy, there is a children’s play area, a skate park, an area for band concerts, a children’s boating pool and a paddling pool. Right in the town centre, The Stray is a focal point for Harrogate, where many people convene, including dogs and their owners out for their daily constitution. If you want to stretch your legs on the Harrogate Ringway, this 20-mile circular route surrounds the town, and you can walk different sections of it for variety whilst on holiday.
Harlow Carr Gardens is a popular attraction for families as well as keen gardeners. Dogs are not permitted in the gardens (except support dogs), but Harlow Kennels, which is located next door, offer a service whereby they will look after your dog for a small charge whilst you’re exploring the gardens. Some of the highlights at Harlow Carr include the Kitchen Garden (where you’ll also see the resident chickens), the Scented Garden and the Gardens Through Time, which features a potted history of gardening that includes a garden designed by celebrity gardener, Diarmuid Gavin. Children will love the maze and other activities designed with them in mind.
Another grand excursion is to Ripley Castle & Gardens (you’ll have to leave doggie behind for this one, unless a guide dog). This 14th century castle offers a guided tour and grounds containing a lake, waterfall, deer park and a kitchen garden.
It doesn’t seem right to come to the Harrogate area without visiting the Royal Pump Room Museum, even if you can’t summon the courage to taste the strong spa water! It’s certainly not something you’ll want to pour into the dog bowl when you get home! Once a magnet for royalty and the bigwigs of society wanting to ‘take the cure’, the Pump Room is now a fascinating museum with permanent and temporary exhibitions and a museum shop.
PLACES TO VISIT NEAR HARROGATE
You can also visit the towns of Knaresborough and Ripon and take advantage of the shops and eating places there. Wherever you roam, you will encounter Yorkshire hospitality and lots to do for the pet-loving family.
Knaresborough is a charming Yorkshire town just 4 miles east of Harrogate. The viaduct over the river often appears in photographs of the town and indeed it is an impressive view from the height of the churchyard overlooking the river. Visitors can hire rowing boats during the summer and enjoy themselves afloat. Boat restaurants and cafes line the river bank providing attractive places to eat at the waterside.
A railway line runs from Harrogate to Knaresborough so that you can catch the train there.
