How to organise a dog-friendly extended family holiday in Mid Wales

Your guide to organising a seamless, relaxing and memorable dog-friendly holiday with a large group of friends or family in Mid Wales.

Ah, Mid Wales, with its verdant valleys, majestic mountains, quaint villages and central location, it really is an enchanting and appealing destination for large groups and extended family get-togethers.

Whether you’ve got a wedding to attend, an anniversary or birthday to celebrate, or just a long-awaited catch-up, Mid Wales Holidays can accommodate the whole clan - dogs included, of course!

To help you plan a seamless experience, we’ve put together a guide on how to organise a dog-friendly extended family holiday in Mid Wales below.

Decide on dates early

With many people in the equation, synchronising calendars and booking time off work (if needed) can be tricky. Decide on a range of dates that work for the majority and set the final dates well in advance, allowing everyone to plan ahead.

From our experience, the optimal times for large group bookings are from October to December. The summer holidays feel like a distant memory, and it’s an ideal chance to catch up before the Christmas and New Year festivities begin.

Accommodation matters

If you’re organising a getaway for a group of friends or extended family, it can be a challenge to find a property big enough to accommodate everyone and their dogs at an affordable price.

The next best thing is to find neighbouring properties so you can all meet up with ease while also being able to enjoy some downtime in your own space.

With all our properties on one site, everyone will be able to spend plenty of time together while also having their own space for the dogs. Y Beudy and Penrhyllan are right next door to each other and can sleep up to 9 between them. We also have basic camping pitches and limited caravan accommodation with electric hookup if you have a particularly large group.

Dog essentials

Dogs are a key part of the family, and there’s no doubt you’ll want them all to get in on the group holiday action. But before you go away, you’ll need to consider how dogs from different households will cope and if they’re going to all get on with each other.

Hopefully, your pups will have met before, but if not, it is a good idea to take them for a social walk as soon as you get here. We have ample space for them to run around and play, or if they do need a bit of distance to begin with, the two main fields have a fence between them.

Itinerary planning

While the best memories come from unexpected moments, it’s a good idea to have a flexible itinerary for your trip.

Our expansive grounds are perfect not just for the dogs but also for family games like rounders, football, cricket, and hide and seek.

If you want to venture further afield than Mid Wales Holiday’s private fields and woodlands, there is a lot to see and do locally where your dogs will be welcome.

Mid Wales Holidays is a great base from which to explore the borderlands of England and Wales, an area of pretty countryside and charming market towns.

Just 10 minutes down the road is Llanidloes (voted one of the most desirable places to live in Wales), a lovely small Welsh market town with a friendly community. It is a very pretty old town with lots of unique shops and places to eat and drink.

Newtown is 15 minutes away in the opposite direction. Set on the banks of the River Severn, this historic market town is famous for its arts and music with museums, art galleries and theatre. It offers a good selection of pubs, restaurants, supermarkets and shops.

Machynlleth, Rhayader and Builth Wells are all within driving distance, too, as are Shrewsbury and Ludlow to the East.

Local attractions include Gregynog Hall and Powys Castle, plus there is access to steam train rides, canal boat trips, golf, clay pigeon shooting, simulated game shooting, driven game shooting (during the season), cycling, and horse riding.

There are numerous lovely walks and woodland areas to explore right on our doorstep. We’re located within easy travelling distance of Hafren Forest, Clywedog Reservoir, Elan Valley, and multiple nature reserves.

If you want to go further afield, Aberystwyth and the stunning Welsh Cambrian coastline and beaches are less than an hour’s scenic drive away, with plenty of stunning scenery and a traditional town with unique shops. Many areas of outstanding natural beauty, the incredible Snowdonia National Park and the Brecon Beacons are not far either if you fancy more to explore.

We also offer a dog-sitting service if you want to explore knowing that your dogs will be well looked after by a qualified dog professional.

Meals

As part of our gundog training holidays, we often go out for dinner one night, so we can recommend some good pubs and restaurants locally that are used to accommodating larger groups.

The Mount Inn in Llandiloes has a good selection of homemade, traditional pub-style dishes on the menu. The key benefit is that it’s dog-friendly, so you don’t have to worry about leaving your pup, especially if they don’t usually settle in new places.

Maesmawr Hall Hotel has a great function room, perfect for larger groups. While it’s not dog-friendly, it does offer excellent food in a remarkably historic Tudor setting.

Eating out with a large group can add up, so if you’re on a budget, you might consider staying in. Both kitchens in Y Beudy and Penrhyllan are fully equipped if you want to rustle something up from scratch. There are plenty of supermarkets in Newtown, approx. 30 minutes away, or an ample Co-op in Llandiloes, approx. 15 mins away.

Communication

If you’re planning a group holiday with friends or family, it’s worth creating a group chat for everyone.

Not only will it help you to ensure everyone is in the loop and updated if plans are altered, but it will also become a great place to share photos and memories of your trip once you’re back home.

Transportation

One of the great things about Mid Wales is its centrality. If you have friends and family travelling from north and south, our location can help make the travelling distance a little fairer for everyone on the holiday.

Though breathtakingly beautiful, as Mid Wales Holidays is situated in a valley at the top of a secluded lane, a car is essential. Once you’re here, you will have access to plenty of safe parking.

If members of your group are travelling from different places, you might want to consider meeting first at a local pub or town before heading to us en mass.

Organising a large group or extended family holiday in Mid Wales is no small task, but with proper planning and a sprinkle of flexibility, it can be a truly memorable experience for humans and dogs alike. And when you’re sitting in the heart of the Welsh countryside, surrounded by loved ones (both two-legged and four), you'll know every bit of planning was worth it.

Ready to book? See when our cottages are available by clicking here.