There are zillions of dog-friendly cottages to book online, but finding somewhere that meets your expectations, and more, on arrival is not always so easy. When we find somewhere special, we love to share, and Eirianfa near Ruthin in Wales is one such place.
We were lucky enough to spend a week at this beautiful farmhouse in Wales at the end of February this year. In theory a small cottage that sleeps 4 but Eirianfa is anything but small. 17 acres of garden and fields that include a private lake, as well as a barn with its own bar and hot tub with the most glorious view.
I needed a week to recharge but I’m not very good at just doing nothing so I thought I’d take a week off from the office and photograph the dogs with my friend Grzegorz Gebik who is an ace dog photographer.
Full details for Eirianfa are on Unique Homestays but here are my highlights from our stay …
Down a long driveway with no neighbours in sight other than sheep. One arrives at the front door of this Welsh farmhouse with a view from the front of the house looking out at open fields, and the neighbourly sheep stare back at you with only a hint of curiosity as they carry on chewing on grass. This is a dreamy, almost romantic little spot.
It feels special to be here, not least because the house is set in 17 acres of land which includes a private lake. A small lake at the end of the lawn with a large deck where you can pull up some chairs and sit and listen to birdsong and the trickling stream at the end of the garden. Two Heron appeared to be in residence who we saw most days, soaring into the air when they heard us coming down to the lake with the dogs. And in the far distance, the Clwydian Hills forming an arc around the gorgeous view from the back of the house.
The dogs just loved it at Eirianfa. There was so much space for them to tear around. There are two large, well maintained lawns to the back and side of the house, and beyond the lawns are fields. We walked a circuit of the property at an ambling pace every morning which took around 20 minutes with the dogs stopping to sniff around and really work their noses. The boundary of the property is part fence, hedgerow, stream and stone walls, and while not 100% dog proof all the way around, it was dog proof enough for our gang to be off lead for their entire stay although I did keep an eye on them when they were off tearing around the garden just in case they went to “investigate” the sheep in the field next door.
I can’t describe the feeling of this kitchen other than it is just right. Large and spacious with stone floors and whitewashed walls but cosy with underfloor heating and an Aga cooker warming the room. I felt at home there the moment I stepped through the door.
We had no problem getting the dogs settled at Eirianfa. We always travel with our dogs' favourite dog beds & blankets because even seasoned travellers like our gang are affected by sudden changes in their environment. Making sure they can rest and sleep well minimises their stress. Shown here: Day Bed Mattress and Snuggle Bed in Oak, and Faux-Fur Blanket in Golden Fawn.
We spent a lot of time around the kitchen table when we weren’t ambling around the garden and fields with the dogs. It was a real focal point of our stay and such a treat to have the luxury of time to chat over endless cups of tea.
Everything we needed during our stay was provided, and more. The devil is in the detail from the herbs and spices stocked in the kitchen to the hot water dog wash in the barn with a supply of clean dog towels.
Quirky and an unexpected delight! The old barn connected to the main house has been converted into what we called ‘The Party Barn’ with a games room with a pool table and darts, and in the main barn a full-on bar, 50” TV, a too cool for school sofa and wood burner, and a hot tub with the most glorious views.
We chuckled to ourselves every time we went into the barn but in a good way. It’s the perfect place for a few long drinks, a black and white movie flickering on the big screen, and of course the dogs joining us to keep us entertained.
We forgot to pack our bathing attire but if hot tubs are your thing, the hot tub at Eirianfa looks out over the lawn and down to the lake. Glorious.
From one tub to another ... I know not everyone loves a bath, but I am a soak in the tub devotee and Eirianfa scores 11/10 for their bathtub - the largest free-standing bath I’ve ever had the pleasure of soaking in. I am 5' 10" and there were no pokey out cold knees in this scenario. You will be pleased to know that I do not have an illustrative photo of myself in said bathtub! For those who are shower fiends, never fear, there is also an awesome rainforest style shower. Whichever takes your fancy, the hot water is endless.
If you’re still reading this, I think you’ll have got the vibe of Eirianfa. A place to hang out, mooch, and entertain yourselves in the utmost comfort. Everything has been thought through in the greatest detail in the design and furnishing of this house as a holiday rental - it was literally perfect throughout our stay.
There’s no real reason to leave Eirianfa once you arrive, although there are some beautiful walks very close by, not least up in the Clwydian Hills & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which is right on the doorstep.
If you want to stay in a place of peace and comfort with your dogs to keep you company – I would thoroughly recommend Eirianfa. I can't wait to go back there again.
Full details about Eirianfa are on the Unique Homestays website. The house is available on very flexible rental terms from short stays to longer holidays. If you do end up visiting this beautiful spot, please wave to the Herons on the lake from us!
EIRIANFA INFO & BOOKING >
A huge thank you to the owner of Eirianfa, Linda Whittingham, for making us feel so welcome in this most lovely of homes.
Reader please note - this is a not a paid promotion, we booked our stay as regular guests!
Photo credits: Unique Homestays and Grzegorz Gebik.
