Dogs welcome north Essex holiday lets

North Essex is surprisingly rural and a complete contrast from the south of the county. North Essex consists of coast and farmland with the occasional town. Anywhere in Essex that is north of Chelmsford could be considered to be in the north of the county. There are some fabulous places for holidays with dogs, the coastline being one of them. Although the big seaside towns of Clacton-Sea, Frinton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze are child friendly, there are long stretches of sandy beach where dogs are permitted. Try finding somewhere to stay in Mersea Island which is also famous for its seal population, Brightlingsea with its rows of colourful beach huts, the golden sands of Jaywick, the Hamford Water Nature Reserve.

Stansted Airport is in north west Essex and the countryside further north is very pretty. Visit lovely villages such as Thaxted and its windmill, Finchingfield – a popular village with a duck pond on the green, to visit for afternoons out, and Castle Hedingham. Hamlets of a clutch of houses are dotted about the countryside, some with an ancient pub where a man with his dog is very welcome. There are plenty of footpaths across the fields and woodlands for walks with dogs.

North Essex is also somewhat olde worlde. There are a good number of period houses and colour-washed cottages, some of which are rented out as pet-friendly holiday homes.