Find your perfect firework free holiday for your dogs.
The most stressful time of year
If you have a dog, you probably fall into two camps - you have a dog who doesn't bat an eyelid at fireworks, or you are one of the unfortunate owners who dreads the end of the year because your dog is terrified of fireworks.
I did a poll in the East Ruston Cottages Chat group on Facebook and these were the outcomes:
- 54% of 375 people had either gone away to get away from fireworks, or they hadn't but wished they had
- 12% hadn't thought about getting away
- 34% had dogs who weren't worried by fireworks.
It makes me so sad to think of how many dogs suffer, and not just on the actual bonfire night - it's an even more stressful time if the 5th November sits midweek as that usually means a whole week of trying to prepare yourself, and your dog for the inevitable. And then there's Christmas, Diwali & New Years to worry about too!
So I asked on our social media pages if it would be useful to have a blog of our cottages which are the least likely to have fireworks nearby - and the answer was a resounding YES! So here it is!
As well as going away, we have a blog from an expert dog trainer on how to keep your dog calm. Click HERE to read the blog post.
We've also been recently doing work with the lovely team at PAWD Drinks - they came to Sunny Cottage to do a series all about getting away with your dogs and how to help keep them calm during any time of year where fireworks might be used. (I'm wondering whether to ask them to call it Series with Sue - it has a ring to it 
)
Both Mabel and Marvin have been trying out their supplement and really love drinking it. I do think it has helped a lot with Marvin. He has relaxed more at home and has been playing with Mabel a lot more (quite a big change in his behaviour). Still not keen on getting in the car BUT is more relaxed about it (rather than shaking like he used to) so we are happy that it is having a positive effect.
We have got a fabulous offer for our ERC followers and guests if you want to try for yourself :
Subscribe today and receive the ultimate calming bundle: PAWD Calming powder plus a free calming collar and scoop. ERC’s community also enjoy an extra 20% off with code ‘ERC20’. Claim your ERC offer here!
FIND YOUR FIREWORK FREE, NORFOLK DOG FRIENDLY COTTAGE
A lot of our properties are very rural, although we can never 100% guarantee that there wont be any in the distance, I have highlighted some of the quieter locations and asked our cottage owners and guests about previous years, and these are the properties which are your best bet for escaping fireworks (in order of how many each property sleeps).
Badgers Retreat, East Ruston
Sleeps 2 | 3 Dogs | Single Storey | Views across the fields from the living room and garden. Owners have their own dogs and three of our other dog welcoming cottages are in the immediate area so they certainly won't be having any!
Edelweiss, Happisburgh
Owner Tracey said "Haven't see any yet" (With fields at the back and front of the house, that isn't too surprising!)
Sleeps 2 | 3 dogs (flex) | Single Storey | Popular Happisburgh location.
The Lodge, East Ruston
The Peanut and Bumblebee Cottage, Happisburgh
Both on the same site as The Walnut (Sleeps 4) so benefit from the same quiet location!
Both Sleep 2 | 3 dogs | Small secure courtyard and shared exercise paddock.
Vineyard Cottage, East Ruston
Just next door to The Lodge, very out of the way and surrounded by fields, the only near neighbour hasn't had a history of fireworks.
Sleeps 4 | Unlimited Dogs | Single Storey
Dormy, Eccles on Sea
Located in a quiet fashioned coastal area between Eccles On Sea and Happisburgh on an unmade road, as far from the hustle and bustle of daily life as you can get!
Surrounded by a 6ft fence in the back garden it's perfect for escape artists too. Sea at the back and fields at the front!
Sleeps 4 | 4 Dogs (Flexible) | Beach a few minutes walk | Reactive dog friendly
The Grove, Edingthorpe
Detached single storey property in very quiet rural village. Surrounded by fields. Our guests said "We have had a very relaxing 2 weeks without the stress of fireworks Вuzz and Оzzy the Whippets were very relaxed and enjoyed the log burner!"
Sleeps 4 | 4 Dogs | Secure garden | Easy rural walks from the door.
The Walnut, Happisburgh
On its own site with the owners as neighbours. Very quiet rural area of a very quiet coastal village. Surrounded by fields.
Sleeps 4 | 4 Dogs | Secure courtyard and shared exercise paddock | Easy rural walks from the door.
Boundary Lodge, Sutton
Rural location with walks from the door. Very few neighbours, several with dogs and horses so they won't be having fireworks. A November 2025 guest reported "We had a truly lovely long weekend at Boundary Lodge - what a lovely property. There were some distant fireworks on the Friday 7th and we could see them over the back fence but they were sufficiently far away that they didn’t cause Monty any concerns - we kept him indoors as it was early evening and we were in for the night anyway. He’s usually quite barky with fireworks as he hates the bangs but he didn’t bark once so they must have been sufficiently far away. They did not disturb us at all and other than keep him indoors we didn’t have to turn up the TV or anything like we usually do at home! They didn’t last long either - maybe 10 minutes at most. "
Sleeps 4 | 4 Dogs (Flexible) | Single Storey (With relaxing area on a mezzanine level) | Views across fields from the bedrooms
East & West Cottages, Waxham
Very easy walk to Waxham beach in ten minutes along a private track. Surrounded by fields. Owners live on site with their own dogs so no fireworks being set off there!
Sleeps 5 | 4 Dogs (Flexible) | Large enclosed gardens
Sand Drift, Eccles on Sea
Located in a quiet and old fashioned little seaside hamlet of Eccles on Sea on an unmade road, as far from the hustle and bustle of daily life as you can get!
Surrounded by a 6ft fence in the back garden it's perfect for escape artists too. North Sea at the end of the back garden!
Sleeps 5 | 4 Dogs (Flexible) | Beach a few minutes walk
Manor Barn, Happisburgh
A 450 year old thatched barn, beautifully renovated and very well designed with the comfort of both humans and dogs in mind. It is surrounded by livestock free open countryside. Owners live on site and know the neighbours very well, who also have dogs. So no fireworks here!
Sleeps 6 | Unlimited Dogs | Reactive Dog Friendly | Secure Garden
Sea Urchin, Eccles
On an unmade road, as far from the hustle and bustle of daily life as you can get. North Sea at the back and very few occupied houses locally.
Sleeps 6 | 3 Dogs | Single Storey | Easy walk to Cart Gap Beach
Bristows Barn, East Ruston
Sleeps 8* | Unlimited Dogs | Reactive Dog Friendly Surrounded by fields and other ERC places to stay. Right on the edge of a peaceful village.
Thatch Cottage, Lessingham
Red Roofs, Hickling
Fantastic detached family home. Red Roofs is on a private road with fields at the back and you step away from the front garden to view the gorgeous Norfolk Broads. Very peaceful location.
Sleeps 8 | 8 Dogs | Reactive dog friendly | View of the Norfolk Broads from the front rooms | Great for nature lovers
The Farmhouse, East Ruston
Owner Tim said "Maybe some a few miles away, but no real noise locally."
Sleeps 8 | 4 Dogs (Flexible) | Reactive dog friendly | Games Room & Library so lots to keep the family occupied | High fences & secure garden
Fenside, Catfield
Kids can enjoy proper outside safe play, the table tennis table, basket ball, footballs and goals, sunken trampoline and Wendy house!
Sleeps 10 | Unlimited Dogs | HUGE garden | Nature haven, no light pollution.
Other great options for a dog friendly firework free stay in Norfolk:
Oak Cottages: Lighthouse, Oak Cottage, Church Fields and The Forge are all on one site and have fields all around they only have one near neighbour and highly unlikely to have fireworks.
The Lodge, Vineyard, Bristow's Barn and Badger’s Retreat are few hundred yards from each other if a group of you wanted to get away.
Book in advance
A lot of our guests have cottoned on to the joy of getting away from fireworks, so you may find a lot of the cottages are booked up well in advance, particularly around bonfire night so your best bet if you like the look of a property is to book sooner rather than later!
If you sign up for our mailing list, you get an exclusive discount, and there are many payment options too - if you have any questions, just drop me an email to sue@eastrustoncottages.co.uk and lets find your perfect firework free holiday for your dogs.
