Frankie goes to Whitby

By Frankie the Cockapoo

About Caedmon House

Caedmon House was named after Cædmon, the earliest known English poet, who was born in Whitby. It really is a stunning holiday home located within the tranquil grounds of the Abbey. From the house you can enjoy breathtaking, panoramic views of Whitby Bay, the town and its coastline. Freya and I spent many a happy hour just watching the world (and the seagulls flying by) from the sitting room window.

With the nighttime view spectacular!

The holiday home had recently been refurbished and was one of the best our parents had ever stayed in. It sleeps up to six guests, with three double bedrooms, a bathroom and ensuite shower room. There are two parking spaces outside the property (three cars would fit comfortably) so no problem to unload all our paraphernalia!

The Paw Award

Everyone knows we dogs normally have four paws, so to get a five paw award is super special. Four is an extremely positive Frankie recommendation, any less and it’s just a question of personal choice.

Friendly & welcoming atmosphere

Naturally, the majority of self catering accommodation is accessed by key entry only and so the welcome is judged on the information received once you have booked the accommodation. Two dogs were allowed and there were friendly notes in the information booklet asking to try and keep us off the furniture, etc, and not to use the claw foot bath because of the danger of our claws scratching the bottom.

Our three-night stay was in April 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we were confident that the house had been thoroughly cleaned, with helpful notes about safety during our stay.

Helpful staff

Sian at airbnb Guest Relations was really helpful; she had already arranged a postponement for us because of lockdown during the Covid pandemic, and was extremely helpful giving us information on how to access the property, etc.

Accommodation suitability & cost per dog

The accommodation was a home from home for the dogs. Loads of space in the sitting room with a cosy corner for our beds where we slept with no problems. The huge ensuite shower was perfect for our paw wash to ensure we didn’t spoil the lovely carpets and keep the place in pristine condition.

Our early morning toileting and doodle dashing was a joy with an enormous field just beyond the Abbey. We continued on with a beautiful coastal walk every morning. For our nighttime ‘visit’ we popped out to the garden at the side of the house.

There was no extra charge for us, which was a real bonus. Naturally, we left the house as perfect as we found it – well the parents did!

Little extras offered

There were no extras offered specifically for dogs, but Mum bought all our necessities and loads of treats so we were very happy.

Location and dog walks

The location was absolutely perfect for dogs (and their families). There are 199 steps (or a steep cobbled walkway) to enable you to reach the house, nestled in the abbey grounds, but naturally the road takes you directly to the front door. On entry, a staircase leads to the accommodation: large L-shaped sitting room, kitchen, bedroom with ensuite. The two further double bedrooms are reached up another staircase.

The coastal path – a five-minute walk from the house – is fabulous and you can access a very quiet, dog friendly beach along the way, which can be reached in around 30 minutes. For a longer walk, the cliff top route takes you from Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay, a very popular section of the Cleveland Way. It’s 7 miles and takes around three hours to complete.

The beaches are available to dogs from September to April, but there are sections of beach especially for dogs to play on during the summer season.

If you fancy a pint at the local brewery, this is just a five minute walk away too! We were delighted to discover dogs were very welcome. Luckily we didn’t have to wear a mask!

And of course there are an abundance of seaside chip shops selling delicious fish and chips. We were allowed to sample some as a treat, especially yummy as they were cooked the traditional Yorkshire way – in beef fat.

Frankie awarded Caedmon House 4 stars

I totally recommend this fabulous accommodation, in one of my favourite holiday destinations.

Love Frankie x

For further information and images click here.