I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, North Yorkshire is one of the best places in the UK to take your dog on holiday. One of the highlights of Dog’s Own Country, more commonly known as God’s Own Country has to be not one, but two National Parks with miles of hiking trails and views. And guess what? We’ve found the perfect dog-friendly cottage in North Yorkshire for you to explore both! Just a couple of miles from the charming market town of Thirsk, in the picturesque village of Thornton-le-Moor, sits a truly special dog-friendly cottage to stay in – Elm Cottage. Not only is it just a stone’s throw from the stunning North York Moors, but it’s also only a 30-minute drive from the breath taking Yorkshire Dales National Park.
The owners, Sarah and Graham, kindly invited us to stay for a few nights so we could tell our readers all about it, and long story short, we loved it!
Elm Cottage
Elm Cottage is a charming 18th-century boutique property in the peaceful village of Thornton-le-Moor, offering a perfect blend of character and comfort. This dog-friendly accommodation in North Yorkshire sleeps up to four adults, a baby, and two furry companions – and the best part? Dogs stay for free!
Inside, the cottage is full of original features, from beautiful exposed beams to a cosy log-burning stove. Outside, the enclosed garden provides a safe space for dogs and the eco-friendly touches, like kitchen recycling bins, got a paws up from us.
Our Stay
As soon as we arrived at the cottage it was a big hit with my spaniels because of the massive enclosed and secure garden, their joy, well Lucia’s anyway was amplified times ten when she discovered that the garden was home to lots of tennis balls! The owners attention to detail when it comes to dogs is really obvious in the garden, eco friendly poo bags were attached to the garden gate. Thoughtfully there was a Mud Daddy in the yard so that muddy paws did not make it into the cottage. The garden must be heaven for human guests in warmer weather (we stayed in February) because there are a couple of outside seating areas adorned with fairy lights and a BBQ. You can also sit and watch the stars in the evening as there was very little light pollution.
The back patio doors of the cottage opened into a little hallway where there was a chest that contained dog bowls etc and a had a big jar of dog biscuits sat right on the top of it – winner!
We headed into the kitchen/diner and what can I say, it is the perfect mix of modern convenience and rustic charm. The gorgeous kitchen units and modern appliances blend effortlessly with the character of the space, complementing the original beams and the farmhouse-style dining table in the dining area. I always give a dog-friendly cottage and extra upvote if it has a washing machine and Elm Cottage does! My partner, as I’m sure you know by now if you are a regular reader is a chef, he actually commented that it is one of the most well equipped properties that we have stayed at.
The was milk in the fridge and a generous welcome pack that I was heartened to see contained locally produced Yorkshire products, along with a bottle of Prosecco of course.
The cottage really is one of those places that both humans and dogs feel relaxed in straight away, it had a wonderful ambiance.
The lounge was the perfect place to relax and read a book (there are loads of books at the cottage) or watch TV in front of the log burning stove.
At Elm Cottage dogs are not allowed on the furniture so it is a good idea to take your dogs own bed with you so your pooches have somewhere to relax. I actually find that the smells from home make it easier for my pooches to settle somewhere new anyway. My dogs found the arrangements more than acceptable as they just loved relaxing in front of the fire while I read some of the many books detailing local walks so I could plan our next days adventures.
As I headed upstairs to check out the human quarters (sorry, no dogs allowed!), I couldn’t help but smile at the charming dog-themed artwork on the walls. The bedrooms are absolutely stunning, with luxurious linens, a huge mirror, and I have to say – the king sized bed in the master bedroom was one of the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in. There’s also a lovely little study, complete with a chaise lounge and period desks – perfect if you need to log in for work while on holiday (as I often do and a huge plus is that this place really does have fast WiFi) or just sneak away for a quiet moment, whether from your partner or, let’s be honest, your dogs!
Both bedrooms have en suite access to the walk in shower room in a Jack and Jill arrangement As you would expect in a property of this calibre it was stunning with luxury bathing products and big white fluffy towels, a step up from the Mud Daddy out in the yard, but that’s a dogs life!!
Dog Walks and Dog-friendly Attractions in North Yorkshire
Location is everything, and staying at Elm Cottage puts you right in the heart of some of Yorkshire’s most stunning landscapes. You can be at the North York Moors National Park’s Sutton Bank Visitor Centre in less than 20 minutes, where you’ll find a variety of well-marked trails perfect for a scenic walk with your dog. On our visit, we made our way to admire the White Horse of Kilburn, a striking chalk figure carved into the hillside. If you’re looking for another beautiful route, I highly recommend the Gormire Lake – a walk along the Cleveland Way and then through ancient and sometimes muddy woodland, to a secluded lake which according to legend is bottomless!
The Yorkshire Dales are arguably one of the most beautiful parts of the county, offering endless adventures for you and your pup. Whether you prefer a gentle stroll to Aysgarth Falls, where cascading waterfalls provide a picture-perfect backdrop, or a more challenging hike up one of the Three Peaks, there’s something for every type of doggy explorer.
If coastal adventures are more your thing, some of Yorkshire’s dog-friendly beaches are within driving distance. And if your pup is more into culture than sand and sea, the area is packed with historic castles and abbeys where dogs are welcome. Helmsley Castle, Castle Howard, and Byland Abbey are just a few worth visiting. Personally, I love a wander around Helmsley Walled Garden, a beautifully restored space full of vibrant flowers and hidden corners to explore. Another favourite is the dog-friendly Ryedale Folk Museum in Hutton-le-Hole, which offers a fascinating glimpse into the area’s past.
The nearby market towns of Thirsk and Northallerton have lots of cafes and pubs that welcome paws, and there are some interesting and quirky shops in both to browse around. York is within easy reach too, in my opinion one of the most beautiful and dog-friendly cities in the UK – well worth a visit.
My spaniels are big fans of forest walks and I don’t think they would forgive me if I did not give a special mention to Yearsley Woods, pooches can run free off lead here at all times and there are lakes to have a splash around in, a real dog day out, this one and only around half an hours drive from the cottage. We actually stopped here on our way as it is fairly easily accessible from the A19.
Honestly, you could visit this part of Yorkshire a dozen times and still barely scratch the surface. Whether you’re into hiking, history, or just relaxing in stunning surroundings, there’s always something new to discover and Elm Cottage is perfectly positioned to explore it all.
You can book Elm Cottage by visiting their website here – we loved our stay in this luxury dog-friendly cottage near Thirsk.
Love Sal, Lucia and Maya xxx
We were kindly gifted a complimentary stay in exchange for an honest review
