We're increasingly being asked if there's a limit to the number of dogs we'll allow to stay. We don't impose a strict limit but we do try to apply sensible guide lines so I thought it may help to put those on the site to give you some idea of what our answer is likely to be.

Firstly, the size of the cottages. They are not tiny but neither are they huge. They will accommodate four adults comfortably but if you then start adding large dogs, there's a distinct possibility you'd be under each others' feet! As an example, Jane & I have at times had three fully grown Golden Retrievers. We may of course like more space than you but we think that that is a nice balance and that adding more people or dogs would start to make it feel crowded. So perhaps four adults with a couple of small dogs or just two adults with three, perhaps four large dogs would be sensible. Other combinations are of course possible and as regards crowding, we're likely to leave the decision to you.

The second thing we consider is guests in the other cottages, particularly those who are likely to be there for the whole week. Most but not all of our guests bring dogs and I'd hate people to feel they'd booked a week in a boarding kennel and not want to return! The cottages have the lounge upstairs, so even if your dogs are not allowed upstairs at home, it's likely they will be going up and down at Midtown. The noise made by several dogs of any size running up and down stairs will be heard in the cottage next door - the owners of No.3 always know when Hugo arrives! Further, guests often sit out on the lawn in summer months and four adults and four large dogs from just one cottage would make it difficult for guests from the other three to share those facilities.

Finally, that vexed issue of poo! I'm afraid we do not provide an area for you to 'exercise' your dogs, in fact we ask that they are not allowed into the garden or other communal areas without you. Being owners ourselves we know that sometimes dogs need to go out at the most unreasonable of times, often in the middle of the night. If they do, all we ask is that you go with them and pick up immediately - please don't leave it till the morning as other guests may be up and about before you. My apologies if you're one of the 99% of responsible owners who would naturally do this without being reminded, but after six poo free years, we've had a couple of instances in 2006 where irresponsible owners have let the rest of us down so I have to mention it.

If that does not answer your query, please email or phone - we're happy to discuss it.

Please use the buttons above to take you to another page or your back button to return to the page that brought you here.