Sapphire Holidays Launches New Dog-Friendly Website for UK Breaks

Cornwall-based Sapphire Holidays, the UK’s largest family-run holiday letting agency, has launched a new brand and website devoted to the growing national love of travelling with dogs.

Dog Friendly Escapes features a hand-picked collection of 850 dog-friendly self-catering cottages and glamping sites across the UK. It’s designed for the increasing number of people who choose to take their four-legged friends on holiday.

According to the Dogs Trust, there are around 13 million dogs in the UK, and over two thirds of owners have taken their dog on a UK holiday. Studies also show that 67% of dog owners plan their breaks around their pet, with more than half saying they enjoy their holiday more when their dog is with them.

Growing Demand for Dog-Friendly Travel

Research from Sussex University has shown that the pandemic-related rise in dog ownership has also driven up demand for dog-friendly travel. The study said that tourism providers should “understand dogs as part of the leisure experience” rather than simply tolerate them, or risk missing out.

Dog Friendly Escapes offers properties from Cornwall to Scotland, alongside practical advice and guides to help pet owners and their pooches make the most of their time away. The range includes coastal and rural cottages, as well as glamping hideaways with added luxuries such as enclosed gardens, hot tubs, and sea views.

A Family Business Rooted in Cornwall

Dog Friendly Escapes joins Sapphire Holidays’ family of specialist holiday letting agencies, which includes Aspects Holidays, Boutique Retreats, Classic Cottages, Island Escapes, and Unique Hideaways. Together, the group manages over 2,850 letting properties across the UK.

Dogs have always been part of the company’s story, with the business named after owner and chairman Simon Tregoning’s dog, Sapphire.

Simon said: “We’re all dog mad here. Dogs are a huge part of our lives and staff bring them into our head office in Hayle every day. We’ve launched Dog Friendly Escapes because we wanted to make it easier for people to travel with their dogs and find the perfect holiday across the UK.

“Four out of 10 Sapphire Holidays bookings already include at least one dog, and that number’s only going up. This new site is our way of celebrating that bond and offering a space where dogs are not just allowed but treated as part of the family.

“We have everything from big and beautiful cottages perfect for groups, to romantic hideaways for two. What they all have in common is that dogs are welcomed with open arms.”

As part of Sapphire Holidays, Dog Friendly Escapes brings over 45 years of experience in holiday cottage letting since 1977.