Brittany beaches

Beach and dogs go hand in hand – they can get mucky in the sand, raid picnics and play in the sea. One great Gallic treat for pups is a break in Brittany, that very British outcrop of France that’s an easy three-hour ferry ride from Portsmouth to Cherbourg. VFB Holidays offers breaks staying in a pretty nineteenth century stone-built house in the hamlet of Lescoff. It’s in the perfect spot for walks along the many marked footpaths and nature trails in the area.

One week's rental of the house, which sleeps four plus two under 14s, costs from £442, which includes a return ferry crossing for one car. There is no extra charge for having a dog in the cottage, but the ferry operators charge roughly £30 per animal (return). The property is currently available from March 24 to July 28. Go to www.vfbholidays.co.uk.

The West Country

Back in England, the Talland Bay Hotel positively encourages guests to bring dogs. The hotel, near Polperro on the south coast of Cornwall, has stunning grounds overlooking Talland Bay, where green fields run up to rocky cliffs that descend onto the neat sandy beach. Fido will also appreciate the company of Olive, the resident labrador. Certain bedrooms are allocated for pet owners including a large room on the ground floor, which opens on to the garden. The three AA Rosette Terrace Restaurant serves locally sourced food including fish from Looe and dairy products from nearby Trewithen Farm. The best walking is along the coastal path to Looe or Polperro, but there’s also horseriding, sailing and fishing nearby, or for rainy days, art galleries at St Ives.

Prices start from £95 per room per night, including full English breakfast, or £160 including a three-course dinner. A £7.50 charge is added per dog per day, which covers deep cleaning of the room after doggy guests leave. Feeding bowls are provided, plus a welcome Bonio biscuit, and Olive, the labrador puppy, has lots of leads, toys and towels to lend to visiting dogs. The hotel also has a great selection of guidebooks and maps for local walks. Go to www.tallandbayhotel.co.uk

The south coast

If Cornwall is too quiet and your pooch requires something a little more cosmopolitan, check into The Grand in Eastbourne. The hotel is vast and dominates the seafront. It has an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, gym and massage and beauty therapy rooms. For some fresh air, walkies options include the beach and the South Downs. It’s not one for mucky Labradors though, as only small dogs are accepted. Built in 1875, The Grand was requisitioned for military purposes during the Second World War, then restored in 1998 when it was bought by Elite Hotels. The renowned Mirabelle Restaurant serves gourmet food in set menus and the dress code is jacket and tie, or there’s more informal dining in the Garden Restaurant. The hotel is 45 minutes from Brighton and ten minute’s from the famous look-out Beachy Head.

The Grand in Eastbourne is the only member of Elite Hotels that accepts dogs. Rooms start from £105 a night and the hotel accepts small dogs only for a charge of £7 a day, which includes food. Go to www.elitehotels.co.uk

Off the lead in the Lakes

The Lake District is a dream destination for two-legged travellers, and among the many cottages available for hire is the doggy-friendly Lavender Cottage at Bowland Bridge, near Bowness. It is a picturesque 17th-century home with a two and a half acre garden, orchards and fish-pond, although the real adventure is the countryside beyond its borders. The house has a cosy wood-burning stove and there are two pubs nearby, as well as water-based activities on Lake Windermere.

Lavender Cottage costs from £360 and sleeps four people. It accepts one “well behaved pet” and the price includes membership of a nearby leisure club with indoor swimming pool. Go to www.lakelovers.co.uk

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