The Beach House

Dogfriendly Magazine Review

Read our comprehensive review of this listing printed in our bi-monthly magazine.

Beach House, Woodbine Cottage
Reviewer: Scott Antcliffe

Being a proud Yorkshireman with a penchant for travel and photography, there aren’t many places within the county that I haven’t explored. Yorkshire is affectionately named ‘God’s County’ – and for good reason – the people are among the nicest and friendliest that I’ve ever come across. The East Riding of Yorkshire is an area that I’ve not explored much of, so when James asked me if I’d like to have a midweek break at the Beach House in Mappleton, I jumped at the chance.

With the car loaded up, my wife Lorna and I took our obligatory holiday selfie with our 12-year-old Border Collie Drift and set off on our two-hour journey to the East Coast. Unable to check in until 3pm, we stopped off en-route at the historic market town of Beverley. We arrived shortly after 9am just as shops were opening up, a perfect time to grab some breakfast.

We made our way into the heart of Beverley and stumbled across a lovely dog friendly café and delicatessen called Vanessa’s. It was busy and bustling with an array of dogs, so Drift was in her element with all the new sights, sounds and smells. I opted for the full English, while Lorna had avocado and poached eggs on toast with mushrooms. Both options were superb, and they catered well for vegan/vegetarian requirements, so Lorna was very impressed. Drift benefited from a good chunk of Cumberland sausage and a slice of toast as I was stuffed.

Suitably refuelled, we stocked up on a few supplies at the delicatessen below the café before heading for a wander around the picturesque, historic town marvelling at the stunning architecture of the Minster, St Mary’s Church and North Bar, a 15th century gateway as you enter Beverley.

Beverley is well worth a visit, it has fantastic shopping and an abundance of cafes, restaurants and shops. It is one of the most dog friendly places that we’ve come across. We noticed a couple of dog shops on the way back to the car that were both awesome. Oh My Dog, a boutique shop that has an assortment of doggy accessories, and The Doggy Deli, a shop that specialises in natural dog treats, both are worth checking out.

We still had a little time to kill, so next on the itinerary was a stop off at the lovely seaside town of Hornsea, just 3.5 miles from our accommodation. This was a great opportunity for Drift to stretch her legs on the beach and have a great run. It is worth noting that dogs aren’t allowed on the beach from May 1 to September 30. The beach is a mixture of sand and pebbles and is extremely clean. We went in mid-November, so it wasn’t busy whatsoever. At the end of the promenade is a perfectly situated shop serving an array of hot and cold drinks, cakes and confectionery. It also has buckets, spades, windbreakers, and other beach items.

We then made the short journey from Hornsea to the Beach House where we were greeted by owners John and Nicola and their two-year-old Cocker Spaniel called Mabel.

We had a lovely chat with John and Nicola, and it was evident they are passionate about what they do. Before heading into the Beach House, we had a sneak peak in the newly refurbished Salty Paws next door which sleeps two and takes up to two dogs as well. It is a quaint, beautifully presented cottage with a complimentary gin bar and a four-person hot tub in a fully secured garden that’s perfect for the pooches.

We then headed into the Beach House and were instantly blown away. We walked in via the porch which housed a washing machine, complimentary logs for the log burner and helpful welcome information. We walked into the huge kitchen and were greeted with a lovely welcome basket on the dining table. It included locally made and sourced products, including shortbread biscuits, crisps, flapjack, tea, wine gums and two small bottles of wine. There was also a tennis ball, poo bags and a large jar of dog treats which certainly gained Drift’s approval.

The kitchen was well stocked with every utensil you could ever need as well as a coffee machine (pods handily provided) dishwasher, microwave, induction hob, electric oven, fridge freezer and a handy breakfast bar. There are two bedrooms, a lovely, good-sized twin, and a stunning master bedroom with a super king-sized bed and plenty of space for clothing and storage.

There’s a handy little snug with a couple of chairs that look out onto the garden and a good selection of books and games in there too. On the table something instantly drew my eye…. a recent copy of DogFriendly magazine. The hosts certainly got a couple of extra brownie points for that.

There is a huge lounge with a very comfy settee and chair. There is also a lovely rocking chair, which is dangerously comfortable, and I may have nodded off in there once… or twice, while the log burner was roaring away – a real homely feel.

There is a 50in Freeview TV and an assortment of DVDs in case any guests fancy a film night. Without a doubt, the most impressive feature in the lounge is the complimentary gin bar (tonics included) housed within a telephone box.  My wife and I certainly ‘tested’ out the gins on a few occasions over the course of our stay, strictly for quality assurance purposes.

The bathroom is well appointed with a large bath and a lovely powerful shower. Once we had settled, we took a stroll on Mappleton Beach, which is only a stone’s throw from the cottage away, with a 2-minute walk. 

The beach is vast and expansive. When we went, we were the only people on there as it’s a relatively quiet area anyway. Once again, a perfect opportunity for Drift to have a good run and test out the tennis ball from the cottage.  Mappleton Beach is dog friendly all year round, one of only a few in East Yorkshire that is.

Once back at the cottage, we used the ‘Doggie Spa’, a handy hose pipe at the rear of the cottage to wash down Drift’s sandy paws.

Later that evening, we decided to go in the luxurious six-person hot tub. In the snug hung up, you’ll find robes and slippers. There were also extra towels for the hot tub in the master bedroom. The hot tub was pure bliss especially while staring up into the sky and seeing a glittering canopy of stars while listening to the waves crashing against the rocks on the nearby beach.

BIRD WATCHING

The next morning, we headed off early to RSPB Bempton Cliffs which is roughly a 40-minute journey from the cottage. As a keen wildlife photographer, Bempton is one of the best places in the UK to see puffins, gannets, kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills, although depending on the time of year you go, you might not see all the birds. Puffins are present from April-August for example. 

Access to Bempton is free for RSPB members and for non-members £7 for adults and £4 for children. Out of season (November-February) it is half price. Dogs are allowed on the reserve but must be always kept on leads. Once again, it was an enjoyable experience for Drift, acquainting herself with a mixture of dogs while walking along the cliff tops. We called in for a cup of tea and a slice of cake at the visitor centre, which is also dog friendly.

We then called at Flamborough Head, where the weather suddenly took a turn for the worse, with the gale-force winds blowing in our faces. So we enjoyed a view of the lighthouse and sea from the safety and warmth of the car while having a cup of tea.

Our next stop of the day was Bridlington, which is only 10 minutes away by car. With it being out of season, the town centre was quiet but the usual array of arcades and giftshops were open. After a little wander around Bridlington, we headed to an award-winning fish and chip shop just one mile away from the centre. Fish and Chips at 149, based on Marston Road has won a hatful of awards. You could tell it was popular as people were queuing out the door to be served. We could see why it had won awards as it was among the best fish and chips we have ever had.

Fit to burst and with the weather gods against us, we decided to head back to the cottage to dry off and relax for the remainder of the late afternoon and evening. The weather eased a little in the evening so we opted for another dip in the hot tub while sampling a couple more gins from the cabinet – a unique and lovely touch.

The next morning, we sadly packed up our things, not before heading to The Old Post Office for a couple of coffees for the road, a piece of rocky road and some doggie sausages for Drift. 

The tearoom is on the same road as the cottage and less than a minute away on foot. Janet, the owner, is a lovely, hospitable lady and has made the tearoom a warm and welcoming place for dogs and their owners.

So just like that, our two days in Mappleton were over in a flash. A wonderful stay in a stunning cottage. You can tell that the owners John and Nicola are real dog people, they have thought of every little detail and made it a truly memorable stay with all their unique little touches. Before we left, we signed the guest book and had a look at the comments. Two full guest books dating back to November 2021 (when the Beach House opened) and I couldn’t find one negative comment. The only negatives were guests wishing that they had stayed longer… a sentiment I can wholeheartedly agree with.

Beach House, Woodbine Cottage, review by Scott Antcliffe and appears in DogFriendly magazine issue 75.  For more information on the DogFriendly magazine visit https://www.dogfriendly.co.uk/magazine