DOGS may not be able to speak, but mine didn’t have to – the eyes said it all.
As Ernie watched me skip over to the outdoor hot tub armed with kindling and firelighters, he clearly thought I’d gone mad.
While I waited for the water to warm with a glass of wine and a good book, he took himself off inside our cottage for a nap — and went on to snooze away the majority of our three-day stay.
Never in his 11 years have I seen him so relaxed away from home, and I have to say, I felt pretty zen, too.
We were at Rowley Farm Holidays — an award-winning family-run retreat in Worcestershire.
It specialises in luxurious self- catering stays, and everything about the site has been designed with dogs and their owners in mind.
You won’t find any annoying pet fees here or rules about which breeds are welcome.
And whether you choose to stay in one of the three beautiful cottages or hidden-away shepherd’s hut, you will have access to your own enclosed garden, a secure dog field and the cute Muddy Paws Wash Room, which comes complete with a range of doggy shampoos.
Dog bowls, blankets, treats, poo bags and throws for the beds and sofas are provided in every type of accommodation, too.
I was staying in The Old Dairy, all on one level bar a couple of steps up from the entrance hall — handy for an older boy like Ernie who sometimes struggles with his back legs.
The open-plan cottage, which sleeps two, was, as the name suggests, the farm’s former dairy but it has been given a stylish makeover since then, kitted out with all the mod cons but retaining a country-chic feel throughout.
I loved the gable ceiling and large windows that allowed light to flood in.
And just like Ernie, I slept like a baby, snuggled up in luxurious linen in the comfy king-sized bed.
While The Old Dairy has underfloor heating beneath its easy-to-clean stone slabs, it also boasts air con — a great perk for pet owners staying during future heatwaves.
We had a welcome basket of local produce waiting for us and the kitchen was incredibly well-equipped.
Although if you don’t fancy cooking, there are a whole host of dog-friendly farm shops and places to eat within a few miles of Rowley Farm.
You’ll find traditional pub grub at The Holt Fleet and the Lenchford Riverside Inn, while The Red Lion serves up cracking Indian cuisine.
Quiet time
In its car park, you’ll also find the quirky Whole Moo World vending machine and tuck shop, which I was quite taken with.
Here, you can get fresh milk, milkshakes and snacks like sandwiches and Scotch eggs 24/7 — handy if you get a case of the midnight munchies.
While all the other cottages were booked during our stay, we barely heard a peep from any of them.
And, on a stroll through the quiet site, we saw that like us, many other guests had opted to just chill out — reading, lounging around in the complimentary robes and enjoying some quiet time while their dogs roamed safely in their gardens.
At Rowley Farm, you really can just kick back and relax — but if you do decide to venture out, there are lots of things to see and do nearby.
Witley Court, just up the road, is a must if you like your history.
This once-grand stately home was destroyed by a fire in the 1930s and while only the shell of the building remains, it’s easy to imagine how it would have looked in its heyday.
Dogs on leads are welcome to explore, and Ernie and I spent a good couple of hours wandering around the ruins and grounds.
Don’t miss seeing the Perseus and Andromeda fountain blast jets of water into the sky, either. This normally happens on the hour in the summer months.
We also went into Worcester, around a 20-minute drive away, where we enjoyed a stroll alongside the River Severn, visited Gheluvelt Park, feasted at Kyndfolk and popped into the Cathedral to have a word with the Man Upstairs.
I couldn’t say if Ernie asked for peace on Earth and good will to men (and dogs), but I think it’s probably more likely he asked for a return visit to Rowley Farm.