Figo has strong opinions about hotel carpets (he rates them for sniffability, obviously), so whenever we’re planning a Dorset trip, the pet policy gets checked before the view does. Dorset’s coastline and countryside make it a brilliant dog holiday county, but “pet-friendly” can mean anything from a free run of the lounge to a strict £50 surcharge and a ban on the restaurant. Here’s what we could actually verify, by checking each place’s own website or booking page rather than taking an aggregator’s word for it.
Chain hotels
We don’t list Premier Inn here. Its general UK policy is no pets (assistance dogs excepted), and we haven’t found a Dorset branch that overrides that, so we’d rather be upfront than send you to reception with a disappointed dog.
- Holiday Inn Express Poole — Walking Field Lane, Poole, BH15 1RZ. Pets allowed (up to 2), must be requested at booking, £50 per pet per stay plus a £100 damage deposit. Confirm the weight limit by phone before you book.
- ibis Styles Bournemouth — 16 Gervis Road, Bournemouth, BH1 3EQ. Listed as dog-friendly on Accor’s own site, with no fee or limit published online — ring ahead (01202 554794) to confirm.
Independent hotels
- Cumberland Hotel, East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth, BH1 3AF. £20 supplement per dog, one small-to-medium dog per room, with dogs restricted to the lido deck and one bar area and leashed everywhere else in the hotel.
- The Bridge House Hotel, 115 East Street, Bridport, DT6 3LB. Dogs welcome in some rooms only (up to 2 per room), with access to the walled garden on a lead. No fee published — call 01308 423371 to check availability.
Campsites and touring parks
If your idea of a Dorset holiday involves a kettle, a view, and a dog flat out by the awning, these sites all confirm dogs on their own booking pages.
- Herston Caravan & Camping Park, Washpond Lane, Swanage, BH19 3DJ — dogs welcome free of charge, on a lead.
- St Leonards Farm Caravan and Camping Park, Ringwood Road, Ferndown, BH22 0AQ — up to 2 dogs per pitch, leashed and supervised. Not permitted in the Shepherd’s Hut accommodation.
- Durdle Door Holiday Park, Main Road, West Lulworth, Wareham, BH20 5PU — dogs welcome, including in the bar and restaurant. £4/night on tent, touring, motorhome, pod and shepherd’s hut pitches; £25/stay for cabins, villas and caravans. Max 2 dogs per booking.
- Sandford Holiday Park, Holton Heath, Poole, BH16 6JZ — up to 2 dogs per touring/camping pitch, leashed and supervised. Restricted breeds under the Dangerous Dogs Act aren’t accepted, and dogs can’t stay in the Holton safari tent.
Where we’re still looking
We couldn’t verify an independent hotel or B&B with its own published pet policy in Weymouth, Dorchester, Christchurch, Wimborne, Blandford Forum, Sherborne or Lyme Regis — aggregator sites mention dog-friendly stays in these towns, but we only publish what a venue confirms itself, so we’ve left them out rather than guess. If you’re after a self-catering cottage, Sykes Cottages has a large dog-friendly Dorset category; cottages change hands often enough that we’d rather point you to their live listings than name one that might not take bookings any more.
Travelling with a dog who gets unsettled in new places? Our calming collars and treats are worth a look alongside the usual routine of familiar bedding and a well-timed walk before check-in. They’re not a fix for serious anxiety — if your dog really struggles away from home, that’s a conversation for your vet or a behaviourist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Premier Inn in Dorset allow dogs?
Premier Inn’s general UK policy doesn’t allow pets except assistance dogs, and we haven’t found a Dorset branch that makes an exception, so we don’t list it here.
Are there dog-friendly hotels in Weymouth or Dorchester?
Likely, but we couldn’t independently verify a specific hotel’s own published pet policy in these towns in our last research pass, so we’ve left them off this list rather than guess. Check with the hotel directly before booking.
Can I bring more than one dog to these Dorset campsites?
Most of the sites above allow up to 2 dogs per pitch or room; always confirm your exact number and any breed restrictions directly with the site before booking.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
