Dog-Friendly Holiday in Bath, Somerset UK

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Photo Credit: Carpe Diem Emmie

There's definitely something about finding the perfect dog-friendly holiday in the UK that can be quite difficult. We went on a 2 hour 30-minute drive from Leicestershire to one of my favourite spots in the country, Bath, for a holiday that was certainly needed. 

Darwin Escapes is a British based company that is fast expanding and currently provides 22 handpicked UK holiday destinations. Each holiday is designed to have its own unique character to ensure they can provide a wide variety of customers with the perfect setting for their holiday. 19 of the resorts offer accommodation options made up of traditional static caravans, quirky beach huts, treehouse accommodation and luxury hot tub lodges. 

Around 8 of the Darwin Escapes also provide Dog-Friendly Holidays and Accommodation in the UK. You can experience gorgeous spots in the UK like the Lake District and Somerset whilst bringing your four-legged friend for the journey. A change in circumstances meant we needed to take my mum's rescue dog on her first holiday and our trip with Darwin Escapes made it stress-free and an enjoyable weekend away in one of my favourite spots in the UK. 

Other providers offer second-rate accommodation when a dog is in attendance but not with Darwin Escapes. Their dog-friendly lodges are no different to the rest, there is still Wi-Fi, modern kitchen and cosy lounges and some even have private outdoor hot tubs. Our lodge was pretty secure too with a sturdy gate and fenced balcony meaning you could allow your dog to explore with ease and in safety around your property. 

We stayed at the gorgeous Bath Mill Lodge Retreat and it was one of the best places we've stayed in this year. The resident cat, Murphy is cute too! This place is most definitely the perfect alternative to a Bath city break as it's situated just a couple of miles outside of the city centre in the beautiful Somerset countryside. You take a long and winding drive up to the retreat where you can enjoy on-site facilities like the bar and restaurant and a small gym. It seems that the bar and restaurant is popular with guests as it was very busy on the weekend of our visit.

The sign-in process at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat is very prompt and friendly - we also found our lodge very quickly, which is useful when you've been driving for 3 hours and you're desperate for a cuppa! The lodge we were staying in was just beyond the entrance to the lodges meaning we had an easy route in and out of the park.  

Our lodge for the weekend was incredibly spacious with an open planned and fresh design. The lodge had two bedrooms, both of which had their own TV with Freeview, one of the bedrooms came with an en-suite and fantastic storage space for your belongings. We had everything we needed for our weekend in the kitchen, including a dishwasher, grill and oven making it really easy for self-catering options. We personally loved being able to rustle up a full-English breakfast in the mornings on this trip and enjoy cooking dinner in the evenings. The living room space is open plan with the kitchen, dining and lounge all in one area. It didn't feel cramped and we both complimented on how cosy and warm it became. Ideal as the weather wasn't great for the entire weekend but we enjoyed being able to just hide in the lodge - and not regret that choice!

I slept in the master bedroom for our trip and it was heavenly - even more so when I could hear the rain hit at the windows. The bed itself was incredibly comfy (and Millie thought so too!)

For a dog-friendly holiday, Bath Mill Lodge Retreat is perfect. We have a nervous SBT so taking her on her first holiday came with a lot of anxiety whether it would cater to her. We were impressed! We managed to find a break in the weather to walk along the Newton Brook (this leads directly into the city) and surrounding areas around the park. It's a gorgeous scenic walk and the perfect time to see Autumn emerge amongst the trees and many plants. We also noted that the staff were incredibly friendly to Millie and even gave her a handful of treats whilst we enjoyed a drink after our walk, which I know she loved!

As mentioned Bath Mill Lodge Retreat is in perfect location for a day trip into Bath which I took total advantage of! It was 10 minutes in the car and I got straight onto the Bath Hop On Hop Off Tour leaving the dog with Jordan at the lodge whilst I enjoyed exploring the historic city on my own. At £15 and valid for 24 hours, it meant you could travel the city at your own pace. 

The 45-minute tour covered more than 35 stops, you can hop on and off at the attractions of your choice. For me I just wanted to see it all so I took the popular route around the city and enjoyed listening to the history of this beautiful city. I really love exploring Bath when I visit and this second time around was even better - especially as I got to do it all alone!

Some of the spots I enjoy most are the Bath Abbey, Bath Thermae Spa and all of the independent businesses snuggled amongst the side streets. 

I would highly recommend a trip to Bath - especially to the Bath Mill Lodge Retreat! I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend break with Darwin Escapes and hope to go to another one very soon!

Find out more about Darwin Escapes and their dog-friendly holiday accommodations throughout the UK, visit their website here.