Just three miles outside of Hay-on-Wye, you’re surrounded by wildlife, with fire pits and hot tubs on hand, and effortless style everywhere you look
What you'll love
Dogs will love
Taking a warm shower in the doggy cleaning station
Finding their towel, bowls and throw waiting inside
Napping in front of the log burner
Humans will love
Waking up with floor to ceiling views
Toasting their choice of stay in the hot tub
Perusing thousands of books in Hay-on-Wye
The place
Willow cabin at Cynefin Retreats is an exemplary model for eco-living. Designed to be engaging at all times of day, and in all seasons, you’ll find yourself enjoying the little things, waking to daytime breaking through the floor to ceiling windows, cooking up snacks to eat on the covered patio in the midday sun, or watching the sun retreat whilst you sip something bubbly in a bubbling hot tub. Your dogs will love cantering alongside you exploring the meadows ripe for picnics, or sniffing out the fruit in the orchard you’re welcome to help yourself to in season, or even going to spot the ‘secret willow garden’ at the end of the woodland.
Sleeping
1 x King room
Washing
Bathroom with rainfall shower and toiletries provided (shower gel and hand soap)
Living and relaxing
Private hot tub (soft tub) on deck, with Fouta towels
Wood burner - first batch of logs provided
Sofa in the lounge area
Under floor heating
Board games and books
Wifi
Smart speaker
Cooking and dining
Kitchen with induction hob, electric oven and fridge with small freezer compartment
Cooking basics supplied - olive oil, salt, pepper, tea, coffee, milk and marshmallows for the fire pit
Dishwasher with dishwasher tablets and washing up liquid
Fire pit with BBQ grill and utensils
Indoor and outdoor dining table and chairs
For the dog
Metal hook with secure long lead provided
A communal warm water hose is available on the building by the car park*, while a cold water hose is located on the other side of the privacy screen near your hot tub.
Boot room with lead clip
Throws for the furniture
Blankets
Treats
Bowls
Towels
Booking information
Check in 1630
Check out 1030
£30 per dog per stay
Early check in or late check out available on request
Babies under two are welcome
One additional child aged 2 - 10 years can be accommodated on the sofa for an additional £20 per night. Bedding and towels provided, add this extra when booking.
Special offer: 10% off midweek stays from 5th May - 3rd July 2025. Offer applied at checkout
Optional extras
Additional firewood available from the owners at £4 per bundle
Bottles of local sparkling wine on arrival
Flowers on arrival
Hay Deli can deliver hampers
Travel cot provided free of charge, upon request
You should know
New environments can be stressful for dogs so please do not leave them unattended inside, especially in warm weather. If you need dog-sitting, we recommend Christine at ‘Happy Hound Holidays’ (07990-792-937)
There are other cabins on site, but you have your own private areas, and you’re all encouraged to respect each other's space
Ideally, we ask that dogs are kept off the the sofa/armchairs. If your dog is accustomed to sofa snuggles, please first cover the sofa with the blanket(s) provided
Guests at the other cabins on site might have dogs
Hay-on-Wye is bustling with culture and life for such a small town, and it’ll become apparent the more you explore its ancient winding streets. There are 24 bookshops, meaning there’s a bookshop per 100 inhabitants, one of the highest ratios in the world – so an ideal candidate for avid readers. Many of the bookshops allow dogs, so just pop in and check first
Say hi to the lovely people at The Old Electric Shop, a small café and vintage shop next to the river. With vegetarian, vegan and gluten free items on the menu, who don’t they cater to? Make it your final destination after a riverside loop
Book a table at Tomatitos Tapas Bar and while away some hours eating tapa made from locally sourced ingredients, whether that’s artisan bread, seasonal veg, or choosing from the imported wines list. Sit out in their garden, and learn the difference between cosas de picar, pinchos and cazuelas – the fun way
Speak to the staff at Want to Canoe? The tour company that operates out of Hay-on-Wye leading expeditions down the river to get in a little exercise, spot the masses of wildlife that populate the river, and get the fresh river air in you. They welcome well behaved dogs
If you’re feeling like a dip, take a wander down to the Warren, a small rocky beach on the banks of the River Wye, and enjoy a little swim – just remember to avoid the aforementioned canoes… There’s also space on the grassy bank for a picnic, or those less keen for a bracing plunge
On the very most north-easterly tip of the Brecon Beacons, Hay-on-Wye is a convenient place to rush into Wales’ second largest national park, and take on the many activities it offers. From biking to hiking, wild swimming and paddleboarding, horse riding, climbing, the list of things to do there is massive.
Get new dog-friendly places, travel tips and destination ideas delivered to you in a format your dog can’t chew to pieces.
Booking guide
Every booking at Paws & Stay is about the dog. You will see how many dogs are allowed at a place on their page and in search results and then you can add them during the booking process. While your dogs are more than welcome, of course, our owners hope you’ll still make sure your dogs are well behaved. There may occasionally be rooms (and furniture) that are off limits to dogs, but not to an extent that will impact your stay. If they can’t be in the room with you, they’ll have a lovely, cosy spot of their own. You can see any restrictions in the 'For the Dog' section of a place.
How to book
All you need to do is select an available check-in date, underlined in gold on the calendar, and see what options appear for your stay. If the stay is within ten weeks of the date on which you’re booking, you’ll need to pay the full cost of the stay. If it’s further than ten weeks away, you’ll have the option of paying a 25% deposit.
When you book, you’ll be able to use the email address you supply to log in and make any further payments whenever you like. We will notify you when your balance is due and be in touch if it goes unpaid past that date.
If you have any questions about a place, you can email us on bookings@pawsandstay.co.uk. Call us during office hours (Monday to Friday, except Bank Holidays, 0900 to 1800) if you have any problems with booking and we can usually sort things out over the phone.
Paying your balance
If you paid a deposit when you booked, we’ll let you know when your balance is due, but you can log in to your account, which is automatically created when you book, to pay it at any time. You can also log in and pay off a little of your balance at a time.
Deposits and balance payments
If your booking is made more than ten weeks in advance of your arrival date, you’ll have the option to pay a 25% deposit. The full balance will then be taken from the same card you pay with. You’ll be able to pay the balance on a different card at any time by giving us a call. If your balance payment fails, don’t worry. Your booking will not be cancelled but we will need to get in touch with you within a week to secure the balance payment.
Terms & conditions
We’ll always try and find a solution that works for you and our owners if there’s any issue with your booking, but you can read our full [Ts&Cs](https://www.pawsandstay.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/) here.
