Brilliant Destinations for Dog Friendly Holidays in the UK

With dog ownership more popular that ever, more and more of us want to find dog friendly holidays in the UK. Dog friendly holidays and staycations really makes for a whole family experience with many of us knowing that leaving our four legged family at home just isn’t the same. Luckily, there are many wonderful dog friendly holiday destinations in the United Kingdom. Whether you are seeking dog friendly hotels to relax in, or brilliant campsites for paddle boarding, here are places where all of you will be warmly welcomed.

Cost:

Dog friendly staycations can be extremely reasonably priced and don’t tend to cost the earth. We often dream of being a winner of the lottery and taking a month or two to explore with our dogs, moving from one destination to another and not returning for several weeks or more. Of course we would have to take an in house dog sitter with us! That is the luxury of wealth. But, where can every member of your family go affordably? On to our dog friendly UK destinations.

Norfolk

Norfolk offers beautiful vast beaches and plenty of dog friendly places to eat, drink and enjoy your family time. Whether you are a camping or glamping type of family, or prefer a fine hotel or cottage, there is something for everyone in this peaceful place. Top things to see and do include the following;

• Holkham beach and estate
• Wells Next to the Sea
• Erics fish and chips
• The Norfolk Broads
• Norwich city centre and cathedral
• Cromer Pier

Ideas for dog friendly hotels in Norfolk here.

South Wales & Pembrokeshire

Wales is a beautiful country and perfect to explore. Even in the capital, dog friendly Cardiff, you will find plenty to do with your dog. Why not try South Wales and Pembrokeshire? Rent a wonderful cabin on the number one beach, Rhossili Bay. This beach is regularly featured on the “Best beaches in Europe” lists. It was also named “Suitcase’s Top 10 beaches in the World, 2017”. Beautiful sandy beaches, great food, and lodging. This is a trip the whole family will enjoy. South Wales is home to wonderful scenery and open spaces. Perfect for travelling dog owners. Here are some of the popular tourist things to do;

• Tenby Castle beach
• Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
• Picton Castle
• St Davids Cathedral
• The Dinosaur Park

Devon

Devon is a very popular and much-loved holiday destination. The South coast has pleasant weather, fantastic architecture, and coastal walking paths for miles. You can also find delicious food in the home of the cream tea- it would be rude not to! Your pet will love Devon with its beautiful beaches and dog friendly places. Here are some of the more popular things to see;

• The Donkey Sanctuary
• Miniature Pony Center
• The informal gardens of Castle Drogo
• Powderham Castle
• The Devon Railway Center
• Home of Killerton

Ideas for dog friendly hotels in Devon here.

Dorset

Home to the famous Jurassic Coast, Dorset has many beautiful landmarks to visit with your dog. You will be sure to love exploring the coastline, stunning beaches and pretty villages but there is also plenty of indoor entertainment to keep everyone busy too. It is a super dog friendly destination with many wonderful businesses ready to welcome you and your dog. How about a Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door walk? Must see attractions include;

• Lulworth Cove
• Durdle Door
• Corfe Castle
• Isle of Portland
• Old Harry Rocks
• Golden Cap
• Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens

Ideas for Dog friendly hotels in Dorset here.

The Cotswolds

Covering over 800 square miles and running through five counties, the Cotswolds has a diverse landscape to enjoy whilst on holiday. The ‘Wolds’, golden stone and rolling hills are stunning to explore, as are the beautiful Cotswolds villages, lively market towns; palaces, castles and country houses. Plenty to see and do in this beautiful destination. Must see attractions include;

• Cotswolds way
• Gloucestershire Warwickshire steam railway
• Elemental Sculpture Park
• Birdland
• Cotswold Motoring Museum
• Westonbirt Arboretum

Ideas for dog friendly hotels in the Cotswolds here

Cornwall

Cornwall has to be a favorite for pet owners in the UK. in 2020, more than 13,200 dogs vacationed in Cornwall with their families. This part of the South West enjoys a sub-tropical climate year-round. The city is very welcoming to dogs. There are 51 beaches in Cornwall that welcome dogs and only 7 in the entire area that does not.If you want to visit off-season to avoid crowds, you will not be disappointed. Temperatures in Cornwall stay above 10 degrees Celsius at least seven months of the year. There are more than 130 beaches in the area, so you will find the perfect beach, seaside walk, and holiday spot. Other things to do include;

• The Eden Project
•  Learn the history of Bodmin Jail (built for King George III in 1779)
• Ride a steam train along Bodmin & Wenford Railway
• Visit iconic grounds of Tintagel and Pendennis castles
• Visit 200 acres of the Lost Gardens of Heligan

Ideas for dog friendly hotels in Cornwall here.

The Lake District

The Lake District had oodles of space and opportunities for walking. Lakeside walks, forests and beautiful villages are all to be had here. This area is extremely dog friendly and many places understand and welcome the fact that that your dog comes too. As a top choice for outdoorsy types, most of the attractions here are indeed in nature. Find breath-taking views at;

• Helvellyn
• Catbells Lakeland Walk
• Lake Windermere
• The World of Beatrice Potter Attraction
• Derwentwater
• Rydal Cave
• Loughrigg Fell

Ideas for dog friendly hotels in the Lake District here.

North Wales & Snowdonia

One of the most beautiful hidden gems in the UK, more than 16,000 dogs vacationed with their people in North Wales and Snowdonia in 2020. They enjoyed the beautiful and lush countryside, majestic mountain ranges, and rolling hills. The lovely valleys with traditional villages and plenty of pet-friendly accommodations make this a winning destination. The highest peak is Mount Snowden’s summit and it stands at 1085m. Your dog, on a lead, is welcome at Snowdonia National Park and is welcome to join you on your trek up the mountain.

For something a little different, go underground to Sygun Copper Mine. It is a Victorian mine that has been out of use since the early 1900s but has been welcoming tourists for 20 plus years. (Note: there are a lot of metal steps so older dogs or dogs with short legs could have a problem.) There are many more things to do and see in this area and you will soon see why people return year after year with their pets to enjoy the adventure. Other attractions include;

• National Slate Museum
• Hafod Eryri: Britain’s Highest Visitor Center
• Llanberis Pass & Village
• Beddgelert

Scotland

As our favourite place in the UK, we could not exclude Scotland! There are so many fabulous areas of Scotland that we have included it as an entire country because we have visited many places and found all to be dog friendly. Wide open spaces, stunning scenery and plenty of outdoor activities for active holiday makers. Beautiful cities and towns to explore and wonderful places to eat. A dedicated Scotland post following soon to do this country justice! See our favourite dog friendly destinations in Scotland here.

Dog friendly holidays in the UK

These are just a small sample of places you can take your entire family for dog friendly holidays in the UK. For those opting for a dog friendly staycation, there are wonderful places to go and stay and truly feel at home. For longer stays or rentals, check out Rent Hero who have accommodation all over the UK.

Let us know your favourite dog friendly places in the UK in the comments below.