Pets welcome – Luxury dog friendly Suffolk @ Woof Farm Barges!

Woof! Are you in need of a dog-friendly Suffolk holiday? Bring your human to Woodfarm Barges, where you and your furry friends make up a massive proportion of our guests. Our Suffolk holiday barges offer plenty of room to stretch your paws out, with large cabins where you can roam about to your heart’s content, and treats galore!

We combine our dog-friendly ethos with the luxury that many don’t expect to find in holiday accommodation accepting dogs. Our beautiful barges are cleaned to a high standard, and offer amazing features such as double cabins, fully fitted kitchens and beautiful views of the River Alde and Deben.

But what about our dog-centric features?

Well, we don’t simply ‘tolerate’ dogs; you’re just as welcome here as your humans! Both of our sunny Suffolk holiday barges accept dogs, creating the perfect environment for your staycation. Feel right at home with your humans, and maybe even make some local friends. We usually advise a three dog maximum, so feel free to bring your brothers, sisters, mum, dad or best friends! If there are more in your canine clan, we can discuss this on an individual basis. We’ve even had house cats and rabbits in the past, but mostly dogs, so you’ll feel right at home.

At Woodfarm Barges, we are delighted to have been awarded the Pets Welcome accreditation by the English governing body ‘Quality in Tourism’. This means that our Suffolk holiday barges meet certain criteria to make a doggy holiday safe and fun for everyone.

In accordance with guidelines set by Pets Welcome, we offer the following in our accommodation:

* Water bowls and food bowls

* Torch and nightlights

* Refrigeration facilities

* Chews or treats (which can be chargeable according to the criteria, but we tend to provide a treat at no extra charge!)

* Suitable pet waste disposal facilities

* Poop bags

* Pet washing facilities and towels

* Stringent cleaning regime following each checkout

Our library of canine guests is growing! Check out loads of photos of other four-legged guests having a waggly-tail of a time here.

However, it’s not just about what’s inside the accommodation that counts. We understand that you want to be as comfortable on holiday as you are at home, which is why we display vital information on local vets doctors, dentists, hospitals and all-night chemists on board.

In addition, we have information for our guests on the location and opening times of the nearest shops, cash machines, public telephones, post offices, and more.

Dog Walking

As we know you and your humans love to go for walks, we have plenty of advice on where to go for the best views, fresh air and exercise. There is a huge variety of walking trails, so whether you want to take it slow and stop along the way at a pub for a treat and a rest, or run wild and free along a beach, there’s a trail in Suffolk for you. Woodfarm Barges provides maps and books suitable for reference on walking in the area which can be found either in our barges.

If you like to plan ahead, visit our sister site www.wheredowe.co.uk, which provides you with lots of ideas of places to visit with your humans.

We’re ideally situated in Suffolk, with great access to plenty of different walks in the area.

Take a trip to the eight-mile trail around Barham, Baylham and Coddenham. The walk incorporates the Baylham rare breeds centre, as well as taking you right past the Sorrel Horse Pub, which is very dog-friendly.

The next nearest walk is a five-miler, taking in Cretingham and Brandeston and past The Queens Head – a great pub/restaurant (you can see a theme here!)

There are also lovely lake walks at Needham and Hoppit Wood, both not far from Woodfarm Barges.

We’ve featured the walk our page on ‘Walking in Suffolk’ on our sister site here.

Dog-friendly pubs

Whether you’re visiting Suffolk for the first time, or are a frequent visitor or resident, it’s nice to know where you can go for a walk and a meal. Suffolk has a wide range of dog-friendly pubs dotted all over. While some request that dogs stay in the garden or terrace area, many allow dogs inside the pub as well. Here is a selection of pubs across Suffolk which allows pets either in the pub or in the garden (click here for the full list):

The Star Inn is a cosy and friendly pub in Wenhaston that welcomes well-behaved dogs. It has a large garden and serves good food.
The Tollgate Inn is a lovely restaurant and bar in Bury St Edmunds. It has a large garden and seating area where dogs are welcome.
The Queen’s Head, Bramfield is an award-winning pub and dogs are welcome in both the pub and the garden.
The Sorrell Horse Inn in Woodbridge is very pet-friendly and dogs are allowed in the pub and garden. The same goes for The White Horse at Tattingstone.
The Bildeston Crown allows well behaved dogs in the pub and they have a lovely, dog-friendly, outdoor seating area.
The Kings Head Inn in Orford allows dogs in both the pub, as well as in their accommodation, and The Cock Inn in Polstead allows dogs in the pub.
The Ship Inn in Woodbridge is dog-friendly, and so is The Angel Inn Wangford.

Please do check with any of these pubs before you visit with your dog as their pet policies may change at any time.

Dog-Friendly Beaches in Suffolk

With miles of beautiful beaches open to the public year round, Suffolk is a great place to bring your human on holiday.

The good news is that from October through April there are no dog restrictions in force in on Suffolk’s beaches so you can enjoy the benefits of any stretch of beach you fancy! In the summer, however, there are dog restrictions on some beaches.

Here’s a list of some restrictions from 1st May through to 30th September:

Aldeburgh – Although the main beach has restrictions during the summer months, there is a mile of wonderful dog-friendly beach just to the North of Aldeburgh which is well signposted, and stretches from the Wentworth Hotel to Thorpeness.

Felixstowe – While the main beach has dog restrictions in place from May through September, there are dog friendly beaches on either side of the restricted area, stretching from Spa Pavilion to Wheeler Road. These areas are well signposted and easy to spot. However dogs have to be kept on leads even on these stretches.

Dunwich – With the beautiful National Trust site of Dunwich Heath and a beach which is dog-friendly all year round, Dunwich is a fantastic location with plenty of long walks and refreshing water on offer. Bear in mind however, that Dunwich is the home to RSPB Minsmere, so there are occasional restrictions on dogs on the Heath (not beach) during the nesting season. If you’re not sure that you will stay on the beach then it’s best to check with nearby Aldeburgh Tourist Information before you make your trip to ensure these nesting restrictions aren’t in place.

Southwold – One of Suffolk’s most famous beaches, it offers a fantastic holiday resort for the family. Although the main beaches of Southwold have dog restrictions in place during the summer months, Southwold Benes, just north of the main beach, is dog-friendly throughout.