The perfect pet friendly holiday

It’s no secret that Suffolk Secrets loves dogs with a host of holiday cottages to accommodate you and your hound. This March we’ve partnered with British pet brand Poppy & Rufus, who offer a coordinated collection of stylish and functional dog travel products, designed for the dog on the go. Co-founder Louise Zadok and pet parent to Rufus share their dog-friendly experience in a Southwold holiday cottage.

Southwold is without a doubt a firm favourite of ours since Rufus was a tiny pup. We visit in all seasons and are never disappointed – well, until it’s time to leave.

First up you’ll need a place to stay and there’s no shortage of dog-friendly cottages. We’ve booked several times through Suffolk Secrets and have stayed in some real gems. It's hard to choose a favourite but we really like 3 Queen Street (for six) and the bijoux Black Cottage (for two). For us, these two properties are best in show for their location, comfort and character.

Both properties are a stone’s throw from a tempting array of cafes  - The Two Magpies Bakery is a must for their cakes, pastries, pizzas and more - restaurants and shops, all of which welcome dogs like no other place I’ve been to, and just minutes from the sea. 

Walks in Southwold are plentiful. However, if you are planning a trip to the area, it’s worth noting that at certain times of the year the beaches near the Pier do not allow dogs, so be sure to check that out on the Southwold visitor’s website. That won’t stop you stretching your legs though, as there is a delightful promenade and the beaches near the common welcome dogs and are lovely.

To follow in our foot and paw-steps, we generally start in town, walking from Gun Hill down to Gun Beach, where there is a great beach café. We follow the pretty huts and dunes down to the harbour at the far end of the beach. From here you can walk along the harbour and circle back to Southwold across the back of the marshes to the golf course and water tower where the view across the marshes to the sea is stunning. Alternatively you can cross the river in the tiny rowing boat ferry – a Rufus favourite - or walk over the footbridge further down to Walberswick, which is a popular spot for crabbing and beach walks. From here head to Dunwich to refuel at the ‘best fish and chip shop in Suffolk’, as quoted by a local and I believe her. Mind you, Rufus and I think everything tastes better in Southwold!

Poppy & Rufus are offering Suffolk Secrets customers 15% off their ‘Out & About’ collection from 1st March to 30th April 2016. To claim, enter the code ‘rufuslovessuffolk’ at checkout on Poppyandrufus.co.uk.