Are you and your dog looking for a holiday that offers both adventure and relaxation in stunning countryside, yet is only a couple of miles from several beaches? Well I think I’ve found the perfect location! Kelling Heath Holiday Park in North Norfolk welcomes dogs with open paws and recently we spent some time staying in one of their dog-friendly Woodland Lodges.
The park, which is an accredited 2-star Dark Sky Discovery Site, is set within 300 acres of woodland and open heathland, providing a tranquil haven for wildlife and visitors alike. There are several waymarked trails to explore with your dog (more about them later in this post). For the first time ever I can honestly say that I could imagine spending a week relaxing at my accommodation without ever leaving and I know my spaniels would agree with me. I mean, it is only a couple of miles walk to the nearest dog-friendly beach, the restaurant is dog-friendly and the village square shop even sells doggy ice-cream, what more could you want?
One of the standout features of Kelling Heath is their commitment to being as planet friendly as possible and preserving the natural environment of the site. They even take part in a national captive breeding scheme for red squirrels and provide electric charging points for cars.
Kelling Heath Dog Friendly Woodland Lodges
On checking into our lodge I soon noticed that Kelling Heath was not your run of the mill holiday park, firstly our accommodation was located in the most beautiful setting with nature all around us and oodles of space between the lodges. Secondly and the thing that really impressed me was the attention to detail to ensure that the dog-friendly Woodland Lodges at Kelling Heath were in fact perfect for a stress free holiday with four-legged friends. The lodge had wooden floors throughout and the decking was gated so that my spaniels had the freedom to observe the wildlife and relax in a sun puddle whenever they wanted, which they loved. There was also a dog shower at the side of the lodge, which Ok they didn’t love as much but we humans were extremely happy with!
You do have to bring your own dog beds and bowls etc when you holiday here, but to be honest I think that the practical steps the park have taken to make holidaying with dogs so relaxing more than make up for a bit of extra luggage. Maya and Lucia, spoilt as they are, were a bit disappointed at the lack of dog welcome treats (there was a lovely pack for humans) but after a quick stroll up to the park’s Village Centre shop for a doggy ice-cream it was soon forgotten!
The lodges are extremely comfortable for human guests with comfy sofas, Large Screen TV and Blu-Ray Player and a table and chairs to eat your meals at. There’s a fully fitted kitchen area that included a 4 ring gas cooker, microwave, a Nespresso Coffee Machine, a dishwasher and a washing machine plus plenty of crockery, glasses and pots and pans. Our lodge had 3 bedrooms, the master bedroom had it’s own en-suite with white fluffy towels, toiletries and bathrobes provided, and there was a family bathroom complete with an actual bath as well. I actually think I see it as a plus that due to the woodland setting WIFI was not a feature in the lodge as it made it so much easier to switch off and relax – it is available in the village square though if you need to go online and we got a signal on our mobiles if we sat out on the balcony.
If you fancy dining alfresco there is a table and chairs on the decking and there is a Brick BBQ stand outside the lodge for disposable BBQ use.
Activities and Amenities
As I said before there is a well stocked shop in the Village Square as well as a dog-friendly restaurant with plenty of outside seating if you want to sit and enjoy a drink. There are plenty of dog bowls filled with fresh water if your pup is thirsty and throughout the park there are many dog waste bins.
There’s no shortage of things for humans to do at Kelling Heath either. The park boasts a variety of recreational activities for all ages, I was tempted to have a game of table tennis, but if you follow us on Instagram you will know that Lucia would have ended up with the ball!
If you have kids they will love the outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, and adventure playgrounds. For those looking to unwind, the Health and Fitness Club offers a fully-equipped gym, sauna, swimming pool and steam room. If you elect to stay in a Woodland Lodge a leisure pass is included. Oh, and it’s worth mentioning that you can camp at Kelling Heath and access all these amazing facilities! There are also some extra pop up eating options and activities in school holidays and my partner was very interested to find out that the park hosts an annual real ale festival.
Kelling Heath Dog Walks
Dog walking at Kelling Heath is fantastic, there are several waymarked trails to choose from and a handy booklet can be purchased from the shop with full details of what you can see on each walk. Dogs do have to be kept on a lead on the trails, but it is kind of understandable when you see all the wildlife that is thriving in the woodland and open moorland of the park. We saw deer several times during our stay here and many varieties of birds, but my dogs were more captivated by the live grey squirrel show on the lodge decking!
We especially enjoyed the Anniversary and Nature Trails but there are plenty of other great walks to choose from, or why not do them all as we did.
Dog Friendly Beaches, Walks and Attractions in North Norfolk
If you can drag yourself away from Kelling Heath there is plenty to do and see with your dog. A real highlight in this area is The North Norfolk Railway which welcomes well behaved dogs at a small charge, but they do get their own ticket! There is even a request stop at Kelling Heath Park itself, although the steam trains can only stop one way due to the gradient.
There are several dog-friendly National Trust Places such as Sheringham Park, Blicking Estate and Felbrigg Hall that are within 5 to 10 miles drive of the park, all offering a variety of walks around their grounds. North Norfolk in general has a plethora of public footpaths so you will never be short of somewhere to ramble.
You can pop into Sheringham where there are an abundance of dog friendly places to eat and drink as well as a large Tesco. While you’re there take a walk up to Norfolk’s only trig point on Beeston Bump, then let your pooch let off some steam on the beach.
Cromer is one of the most well known destinations in North Norfolk, Cromer Crab anyone? It’s well worth a trip to take a stroll along the famous Cromer Pier which is dog-friendly, however please note that in the summer months there is a dog ban on Cromer beach.
Don’t let that worry your furry friend though, North Norfolk is blessed with several gorgeous beaches that are dog-friendly all year round, Weybourne is so close to Kelling Heath Holiday Park that you can walk there, or it’s 5 minute drive, but it is a pebble beach so I advise jumping in the car for 15 minutes and heading to East Runton which is lovely and sandy and very popular with dogs!
Another great trip to take your dog on is a boat trip to see the seals, my spaniels loved it, we went from Morston Quay which is about 20 minutes drive from the park.
Further up the coast is the jewel in the crown of Norfolk’s Beaches, well in my opinion anyway Wells-next-the-Sea where you can marvel at the quirky beach huts whilst your dog bounds around on the sands (the tide comes in here extremely quickly so please familiarise yourself with the times if you go here, although they do sound a siren!) Holkham Hall is another fab day out and Sandringham is not that far away either.
If you’re looking for dog-friendly accommodation in North Norfolk, Kelling Heath Holiday Park is the perfect location to enjoy a holiday with your four-legged friend, we absolutely loved it there and give it our esteemed 10 paw rating!
Love
Sal, Maya and Lucia xxx
* We received a complimentary stay at Kelling Heath in return for an honest review.
