Choosing holiday cottages in Constable Country means you’ll be walking in the footsteps of England’s world famous romantic artist John Constable, born in 1776. Celebrated for his landscape paintings of Dedham Valley he had great affection for the whole local area and his now very valuable canvasses certainly reflect this.

Including Essex and Sussex there’s a lovely selection of cottage rentals in Constable Country, many dog friendly and you can be rural, near a village, pretty market towns, part of our luxury collection or even have a private hot tub, the choice really is yours.

If you love being out in the fresh air surrounded by gorgeous countryside there are some lovely walks to follow and you’ll soon feel like a cameo part in one of Constable’s masterpieces. There’s a great choice of circular walks through tranquil water meadows, over gentle hills and along meandering brooks more or less unchanged from when the pictures where painted over 200 years ago.

Flatford is on the River Stour in Suffolk, very close to Constable Country and was the inspiration for many of his paintings. It lies in the heart of the beautiful Dedham Vale and was the creative stimulus for Constable’s famous picture the Hay Wain. Here you will find Flatford Mill which is a Grade I listed 18th Century Watermill built in 1773 and now owned by the National Trust. Take a walk with your four legged friend and enjoy fabulous views of the valley from Fen Lane plus there’s a great tea room on the route. Bridge Cottage at Flatford is now a museum dedicated to Constable’s work.

Shotley Gate is a must for lovers of the water, including your dog! Stride out along the peninsula passing the joining of two tidal rivers to see the ports of Harwich and Felixstowe with some of the world’s largest container ships coming and going on the horizon.

Venture a bit further to the garrison town of Colchester and visit the largest Norman keep in Europe. It now includes a museum and tours of the Roman vaults, castle roof and Norman chapel plus restaurants, cafes and gastro pubs serving traditional food and drink.