Last Minute Break in the UK with your pet

Dinah Alonso-Wilkes on 27 September 2019
Have you ever got to that point when, you just need a break, a few days away? But you have a long list of requirements:

Pet friendly an absolute must for me Hot tub Not a hotel High standard of accommodation King Size Bed Decent kitchen Somewhere not too busy

I found that place, so we set off from Yorkshire, for a fairly long drive down to Norfolk. To a lodge at the Waveney River Centre, near Beccles, handy for shopping.

Beside the River Waveney, you can hire a boat for the day. Or spend the day in the swimming pool, they also have glamping pods and a number of apartments. There’s a busy pub that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, should you not want to cook and a small shop for those last minute things you forgot to pack. You park next to your Lodge, which is great for unloading. It was spotless, not sure that a white carpet is ideal, when you have a large dog but I did pack many dog towels.

The first morning was glorious sunshine, for our walk, down past the other lodges, towards the river, then back around the field, spotted a deer at the far side. Time for breakfast.

Whilst in the area we headed to our favourite village Walberswick, a lovely village with 2 pubs, couple of cafes and a local co-op shop. Lunch at The Anchor is always a delight, a wonderful host and even better food. And to walk it off and exercise Milo my dog, a long hike along the beach. After leaving Walberswick I drove the Southwold Harbour to buy some fresh fish and prawns for dinner, there’s a number of shops along the harbour, where the local fishermen sell their catch, a quick dash into Adnam's Brewery (tours are available) to stock up on Gin (medicinal purposes only).

This coast has a number of small hotels and self catering properties, catering for any number of people. Especially good if you have a dog. And this year Southwold held “The Southwold Sausage Walk” with nearly 500 dachshunds from all over the UK.

Our day ended back in the Lodge, preparing the fish for a delicious dinner. The following morning started with my normal hike with Milo, a slightly different route this time, a quick breakfast as we wanted to head out and discover the Norfolk Coast. First stop was Winterton on Sea. Lovely beach, but expensive car parking. Followed by quite a long drive to Cromer, never been before. Still retains some of its Victorian Seaside resort charm interspersed with a few amusement arcades and crazy mini golf, also found somewhere to ate the famous Cromer Crab.

I do find this whole area has something for everyone, busy resorts and quiet villages, open heaths and pine forests, bike & walking trails, long & short, boating on the broads or fishing trips out to sea