Sometimes it just has to happen. Out of the daily grind, into nature. Just the three of us: my favourite man, our Murphy, and me. That's exactly the little getaway we treated ourselves to on the last weekend of July — and we discovered a real hidden gem. Our destination: the Lavender Hill Eco Resort in Slovenia, a place that enchanted us from the very first moment. So if you're looking for peace and quiet, unspoilt nature and genuine dog-friendliness, take a few minutes and let our short holiday with dog inspire you.

The Magic of the First Moment: Arriving and Feeling at Home

The drive from Baden bei Wien took a little over three and a half hours — slightly longer than expected. Countless roadworks on the motorway tested our patience, which is why we decided at Maribor: let's take the exit! Switching to the regional roads turned out to be the best decision. It meant we could already soak up Slovenia's beautiful, hilly landscape instead of sitting in a traffic jam.

Panoramic view over meadows and trees at the Lavender Hill Eco Resort with mountains in the background.

When we arrived at the resort, the owner Dejan welcomed us so warmly it felt as though we were old friends. With a cool, freshly poured beer for us and a friendly welcome for Murphy, we sat on the terrace and knew right away: this is the right place. The feeling of having truly arrived was there instantly.

A large birch tree against a blue sky with thin white clouds at Lavender Hill.Murphy licks Babsi's cheek on a wooden balcony with a green forest in the background.Green meadows and trees at Lavender Hill in the evening light with a cloudy sky and hills.Murphy stands on a flower meadow full of yellow blooms, looking upwards.A deer stands on a green meadow at the edge of the forest in Slovenia.

The Lavender Hill Eco Resort: A Green Oasis of Calm

The Lavender Hill Eco Resort sits on a vast forest clearing, surrounded by nothing but trees, meadows and what feels like millions of ferns in the most intense shades of green. It's a place where you immediately shift down a gear. Beside the resort there is just one single other farmhouse — otherwise, there is absolute silence.

Pool at the Lavender Hill Eco Resort with a view of green hills and a mountain panorama.Covered well in front of the main building of the Lavender Hill Eco Resort at dusk.Heart-shaped cutout in a weathered wooden wall made of rough planks.View through old wooden beams onto a lawn, red flowers and mountains in the background.Covered outdoor area with an old wine press, wooden barrels as standing tables and wagon wheels as decoration.Five old wagon wheels as decoration on a wooden railing, with flowers and mountains behind.A French Bulldog stands on the wooden terrace by the pool at the Lavender Hill Eco Resort.The Lavender Hill Eco Resort in the evening light with an illuminated building, pond and colourful sky.

Dejan has created a little paradise here where fruit trees and vegetables are grown. Amongst all that greenery, seven cats, a few sheep and some chickens also call the place home. Fortunately for our nerves, Murphy only really noticed the cats on the last day — though of course he'd been sniffing them out the whole time. Somehow they were always exactly where we weren't. Phew!

A cat lying on the rim of a stone fountain among old tools and equipment.A cat lying on a gravel path beside a flowering meadow.A flock of sheep with lambs in various colours on a sloping pasture between trees.Two white sheep standing on a sunny pasture, with more animals from the flock in the background.

Our room was simple but spotlessly clean and equipped with everything you need: a fridge, some crockery and a large balcony from which we could enjoy the peace and quiet.

Bathroom at the Lavender Hill Eco Resort with a glass shower, stone sink on a wooden vanity unit and toilet.Bedroom at the Lavender Hill Eco Resort with a double bed, brick wall and balcony with a forest view.

Our Days in Slovenia: Relaxation and Discovery

We had deliberately decided not to force anything and simply go with the flow. And that's exactly what we did. Thursday evening we headed out nice and relaxed to the nearby Grešni Kozel for dinner with Murphy.

Outdoor terrace of the Grešni Kozel restaurant with wooden tables and street signs in the background.Murphy lying on a cobbled floor wearing a colourful harness.

Friday: A Day for Chilling and Doing Yoga

I'll admit it — the first night was a little restless. The mosquitoes had us in their sights! Because it had been raining on and off, the little blighters were very active, and unfortunately we hadn't brought a mosquito repeller plug. Friday morning was therefore a bit "zach", as we say back home.

You can read everything that's on our packing list right here. I'll be adding the mosquito repeller plug ;)

We started the day with a leisurely breakfast that left nothing to be desired: vegetarian and vegan options such as avocado spread, homemade pesto, fresh vegetables and a delicious nut bread, as well as cheese and cold cuts. Everything was laid out with so much care and love.

Breakfast room at the Lavender Hill Eco Resort with red-and-white checked tablecloths and a brick vaulted ceiling.Breakfast buffet at the Lavender Hill Eco Resort with bread, cheese, olives, spreads and muesli on a wooden table.

Afterwards, we explored the immediate surroundings on a forest walk. I love ferns, and here I got my fill! Later I grabbed my yoga mat and found the perfect spot beneath a birch grove that used to serve as a wedding venue. While my favourite man and Murphy made themselves comfortable in the room, I enjoyed a yoga session in the most beautiful natural setting. The two of them came to collect me and then joined me at the gorgeous, long swimming pool — wonderfully refreshing!

A narrow forest path between tall trees in a mixed woodland in Slovenia.Looking up into the canopy of a mixed forest against a blue sky.A flowering woodland plant with pink blossoms growing among green ferns.A small forest pond surrounded by ferns and moss-covered trees.A person strolls along a wide gravel path through a bright deciduous forest.A toad sitting in shallow, muddy water at the water's edge.Babsi leans over Murphy, who is lying relaxed on a meadow.Blue meadow flowers blooming in a field with trees and a wooden fence in the background.A wildflower meadow with ferns and colourful wildflowers, green hills and trees in the background.Murphy standing on a lead in a meadow beside an old wooden fence.View from a yoga mat across a meadow with a large tree under a cloudy sky.A cat sniffing the toes of a person sitting in the grass.A French Bulldog sitting on a wooden terrace in front of an outdoor pool with a view of the forest.Babsi standing in the pool, looking out at the wooded hill behind it.Murphy curled up asleep in a round dog bed on a wooden floor.The evening sun breaks through clouds over rolling meadows dotted with white wildflowers.

To round off the day we took a stroll past the flock of sheep, where the ram was expertly helping himself to plums straight from the tree. He was simply hilarious to watch ;)

Saturday: Off to the Grad Žovnek Castle Ruins

On Saturday we were full of energy again. Our destination was the Grad Žovnek castle ruins, which have been lovingly revitalised in recent years. The roughly half-hour climb through the forest was an experience in itself. We discovered yellow coneflowers, horsetails, fascinating snails and, of course, ferns of every size once again.
At the top, we were greeted not only by an impressive ruin but also by an offshoot of the oldest grapevine in the world. The view was simply magnificent. Murphy was desperate to explore the tower, but unfortunately it's only open on Sundays.

The Grad Žovnek castle ruins perched on a wooded hill in the morning mist above a pond.Dense horsetails growing in the undergrowth of a forest along the hiking trail.An old, wide-spreading deciduous tree stands at the edge of the forest surrounded by green shrubs.A Roman snail with a brown shell crawling along a gravel path.Pink flowers in an old wooden trough in front of a farmhouse with a green hillside in the background.Two men sitting in a wine barrel — a mural painted on a plastered house wall.Murphy standing on a lead on a forest path beside a wooden bridge, surrounded by ferns and moss.The stone entrance gate of the Grad Žovnek castle ruins with towers and flags under a cloudy sky.A metal sculpture of a knight with a sword and red-and-white striped shield on the castle wall of Grad Žovnek.Murphy standing in a pointed archway of the Grad Žovnek castle ruins on a cobblestone path.Ferns growing from the joints of an old stone wall at the Grad Žovnek castle ruins.A wooden figure peering out of a wall window at Grad Žovnek castle, with a red-and-white flag hanging above.Information board on the stone wall of Grad Žovnek about an offshoot of the oldest grapevine in the world from Maribor.A grapevine behind a wrought-iron fence along the castle wall of Grad Žovnek.View from the Grad Žovnek castle ruins across forest and a lake into the valley with mountains on the horizon.The tall ruin wall of Grad Žovnek photographed from below under a cloudy sky.Murphy standing in front of a heavy wooden door in the stone portal of Grad Žovnek castle, looking upwards.Babsi and Murphy sitting in a window niche of the Grad Žovnek castle ruins.Murphy and a man standing in a stone gateway of the Grad Žovnek castle ruins, with misty forest behind them.A keyhole-shaped arrow slit in the castle ruin wall with a view of wooded hills in the mist.Information board with four photos of the castle ruins and a manor house belonging to the municipality of Braslovče.

For lunch we stopped at the traditional Gasthaus Weiss, where we were once again welcomed with incredible warmth and dog-friendliness. Refreshed, we then drove up the hill to the church Cerkev Križa na Gori Oljki. From up there you have a spectacular view over the entire region. We rounded off the evening in a relaxed atmosphere at the resort and were rewarded after a brief thunderstorm with a magical sunset in orange and purple.

Sign for Gostilna Weiss on an exterior wall in Mozirje.Dessert with vanilla sauce and dark berry compote on a grey plate, garnished with mint.Stone balustrade on a hilltop with a sweeping view of mountains and forests beneath a cloudy sky.Green valley with forests and scattered houses, wooded mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.Yellow baroque church with two towers and an external staircase, photographed from below.Gilded baroque altar with figures of saints and angels on a blue ornamental background inside a church.Evening glow over forested Slovenian hills at Lavender Hill, mist drifting through the valley.

Our verdict on the dog-friendly holiday at Lavender Hill Eko Resort in Slovenia

This short trip was exactly what we needed. Slovenia won us over completely with its unspoilt, peaceful, nature-connected character. The people are incredibly hospitable and dog-friendly, the food is honest, good and affordable, and the landscape is simply a dream for anyone who loves hiking and being in nature.

More inspiration for dog-friendly travel destinations in Europe

Lavender Hill Eco Resort is the perfect place when you want to escape the hustle and bustle and simply be. It's not a luxury hotel with all the fanfare, but an authentic, lovingly run oasis where you feel welcome as a person with a dog from the very first second. We'll definitely be back — next time, though, with a mosquito repellent plug in our luggage!