County Durham doesn’t get talked about as a dog-friendly destination the way Cornwall or the Lakes do, but between Teesdale, Weardale and the coast there’s more here than you’d expect. Our County Durham hub page covers what to do once you’ve arrived, and our dog swimming spots guide is worth a look too. For somewhere to actually stay, Figo and I only wanted places with a specific, checkable dog policy, confirmed wherever possible on the venue’s own site rather than a vague “pets welcome” badge on an aggregator page. Here’s what we could confirm.
Chain hotels
We checked directly for a Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, voco, ibis and Mercure anywhere in County Durham and couldn’t find a branch of any of them in the county — not a case of a branch existing but refusing dogs, the brands simply aren’t present here. Premier Inn is left off by default, as with every AboutDogs guide.
Independent hotels and inns
The Morritt Country House Hotel & Garage Spa, Greta Bridge
Near Barnard Castle, DL12 9SE (Google Maps, hotel’s own site), dog-friendly rooms are available on request for £10 per dog per stay. Dogs are welcome in the bar, lounge and gardens, and in the Bistro at breakfast.
Seaham Hall, Seaham
At Lord Byron’s Walk, SR7 7AG (Google Maps, hotel’s own site), dogs are welcome by prior arrangement only, in a dedicated dog-friendly Coastal Lodge. There’s no flat pet fee, though damage or extra cleaning can be charged. Rules are strict — lead or carrier in public areas, a crate if your dog is left alone, and no hot tub or furniture.
Lumley Castle Hotel, Chester-le-Street
At Ropery Lane, DH3 4NX (Google Maps, PetsPyjamas listing), dogs stay free, one per room. We couldn’t find this confirmed on the castle’s own site, so it’s worth a quick call to double-check before you book.
Bed and breakfast
The Victoria Inn B&B, Witton le Wear
Near Bishop Auckland, DL14 0AS (Google Maps, listing with venue policy), one designated dog-friendly room is available for £10 a night — which includes poo bags, a bowl, toys and treats.
Camping and caravan parks
Bonners Lodge Caravan Park, Waskerley, Consett
At DH8 9HW (Google Maps, park’s own listing), dogs are confirmed welcome at £2 per stay (guide dogs free), on leads and supervised. Up to three dogs are allowed on standard pitches, rising to six on the enclosed Rayhans Rigg and Barkers Bay pitches.
Beamish Holiday Park offers holiday caravans described as “pet free or pet friendly,” but doesn’t publish a fee — ask when booking. A handful of further sites turn up on Pitchup’s “dogs allowed” filter for the county — High Woodifield near Crook, Dragonfly Camping and Garth Hill Farm near Durham and Bishop Auckland, High Farm Holiday Park, Hammer and Pincers near Newton Aycliffe, and Newlands Hall near Frosterley — but we could only confirm these are platform-filtered as dog-friendly, not their individual fee or policy, so check directly before booking.
Cottages, and what we couldn’t confirm
Self-catering cottages are the weakest category here. This is Durham’s own dog-friendly accommodation filter lists well over a hundred cottages across Teesdale, Weardale, Durham City and Consett — places like Low Shipley Cottage near Barnard Castle, Rose Cottage in Middleton-in-Teesdale and Orchard Cottage in Durham — but the filter doesn’t expose an individual cottage’s fee or detailed policy, so we’re not stating specifics rather than publish a guess. Get the dog policy from the owner directly and in writing before booking.
Ramside Hall Hotel near Durham is tagged dog-friendly by the official tourism board but we couldn’t find a fee or policy confirmed by the hotel itself. Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield, Redworth Hall Hotel in Newton Aycliffe, Whitworth Hall Country Park Hotel in Spennymoor, Doe Park Caravan Park in Bishop Auckland and Allensford Caravan Park in Consett all came up in our search but none had a dog policy we could confirm — worth a direct call if one’s on your shortlist.
A new place to sleep can unsettle even a well-travelled dog. Our County Durham vets guide is worth bookmarking before you go, and we’ve found the calming collars and treats at Calmshops a useful complementary option — always check with your vet first if your dog has any underlying health conditions. Our County Durham dog walkers guide and local dog walks guide are worth a look too, once you’ve found somewhere to stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a dog-friendly chain hotel in County Durham?
We couldn’t find a Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, voco, ibis or Mercure anywhere in the county — none of these brands currently have a branch in County Durham.
What are the best dog-friendly hotels in County Durham?
The Morritt Country House Hotel near Barnard Castle, Seaham Hall’s dedicated Coastal Lodge, and Lumley Castle Hotel in Chester-le-Street all confirm a dog policy, with The Morritt charging £10 per dog per stay.
Can I bring my dog camping in County Durham?
Yes — Bonners Lodge Caravan Park near Consett confirms dogs at £2 per stay, and several other sites are filtered as dog-friendly on booking platforms, though most don’t publish a fee online.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
