Your four-pawed best friend loves a holiday as much as you do and across the UK there are plenty of places to take your dog so no pup need get left behind.
Of course, there are numerous country parks, nature reserves, woodlands, moorlands and beaches offering wide open spaces for your dog to run around in, but where else can you take your faithful pup?
We've gathered together a few of our favourite places to visit from around the country to get you started. Click the button below to begin browsing our dog-friendly holiday cottages or read on and discover places to go to inspire your next dog-friendly holiday.
Paw-friendly UK cottages
Cheddar Gorge
As one of Somerset’s most famous family attractions, it’s a bonus to learn that Cheddar Gorge is also dog-friendly! Your pooch can stroll around the gorge, through the caves and he can even learn a thing or two in the museum.
Cheddar Gorge offers magnificent views and with loads to see, discover and do, you are guaranteed a great family day out.
Location: BS27 3QA
Information: There are pay and display car parks in the village, dogs welcome and picnic areas at Cheddar Gorge, and a wheelchair-friendly information point, although many of the paths are steep and may be difficult for anyone with limited mobility.
Dog-friendly Somerset
Between lounging in the holiday cottage and exploring the caves of Cheddar Gorge, you'll no doubt be out about making the most of this wonderful county. Discover more dog-friendly places to visit in this dog-friendly Somerset guide.
More dog-friendly natural attractions:
Cotswold Wildlife Park
Not only is the Cotswold Wildlife Park an attraction that's great for your dog, but it is definitely a family-friendly choice too. Your children will love discovering all the fascinating animals here, with everything from lions, giraffes and monkeys to intriguing reptiles of all shapes and sizes.
As long as your pooch is kept on a lead and behaves himself, this is a day out he can make the most of too. The only restrictions are that he’s not allowed to enter the Bat Belfry, Reptile House or the Children’s Farmyard where other animals may be wandering freely.
Location: OX18 4JP
Information: Facilities include The Oak Tree Restaurant, a variety of kiosks and picnic spots, toilets and a gift shop. There's a narrow-gauge railway that runs during the summer, and an Adventure Playground and Skymaze too.
Dog-friendly Cotswolds
More dog-friendly animal attractions:
Pembroke Castle
Team a slice of intriguing history with a great day out during a Wales holiday. Pembroke Castle is a magnificent dog-friendly attraction in the UK with impressive views from the 75ft Great Keep as well as a maze of passageways and towers to explore at your leisure.
Although dogs are not allowed inside the café or gift shop, there are extensive stunning grounds where he can stretch his legs. It’s the perfect opportunity to pack a picnic and make the most of the great outdoors.
Location: SA71 4LA
Information: A brass rubbing centre, shop and café. Parking on The Common next to the Tourist Information Centre.
Dog-friendly Wales
For more great dog-friendly day trips around Wales, have a look through more of our favourite dog-friendly attractions in Wales.
More magnificent dog-friendly castles:
Windermere Lake Cruises
There are so many different cruises you can embark on that you will be sure to see all the sights when you hop aboard a cruise with Windermere Lake Cruises and it’s a really fun thing to do during a romantic or family holiday.
Your dog can travel free with you so he can take it all in too. Whether you depart from Bowness, Ambleside or Lakeside, you are guaranteed to take in some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK. To save money and enjoy a full day on the water, you could combine several different cruises.
Location: Bowness Pier LA23 3HQ, Ambleside Pier (Waterhead) LA22 0EY, Lakeside Pier LA12 8AS
Information: The ferries depart from three piers around Windermere, each with a long stay car park nearby.
Dog-friendly Cumbria
For more great dog-friendly day trips and attractions in the Lake District and Cumbria, take a read of our pet-friendly Lake District guide.
More magical dog-friendly lakes:
Yearlstone Vineyard
Fancy a sophisticated dog-friendly day out sipping wine while surrounded by beautiful countryside? Yearlstone Vineyard is found in a Devon valley near the quaint village of Bickleigh and on the outskirts of the market town of Tiverton.
Not only are the owners happy to welcome dogs but their own four-legged friends are usually found strolling the grounds, relaxing in hedgerows and greeting visitors. Guests are more than welcome to let their dogs off the lead to wander around the vineyard, taking in the smells with the resident dogs and they can also relax on the patio outside the restaurant while you have your lunch.
Location: EX16 8RL
Information: Cafe, shop and car parking.
Dog-friendly Devon
More sophisticated dog-friendly vineyards:
Keighley and Worth Valley Railways
Step back in time in Yorkshire with the famous Railway Children to experience and learn about Keighly and Worth Valley Railways' historic railway and its powerful engines.
Trips run throughout the year but in June, July and August Vintage Train Sundays take place on selected weekends which give you the chance to travel on restored carriages that are part of the Railway’s museum, many of which date back to Victorian times. This dog-friendly attraction means that your four-legged friend doesn’t have to miss out and together you can enjoy a family day out exploring the beautiful country of famous novelist Charlotte Brontë.
Location: BD22 8NJ
Information: Most KWVR services can carry manual or powered wheelchairs. Old Parcels Office is a cafe at the Keighley station and there are food buffets and toilets on some trains.
Dog-friendly Yorkshire
More dog-friendly railway adventures:
Housesteads Roman Fort
Hadrian's Wall stretches for an incredible 73 miles from Wallsend on the River Tyne in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west and cuts across the open landscape providing endless opportunities for scenic views and leg stretches on a day out with the dog.
You can stop at any point along the wall for a walk to explore but we'd suggest heading to the dog-friendly Housesteads Roman Fort attraction in Northumberland to gain an understanding of the history behind it all. There's a museum where you can get the full story and look over artefacts that are centuries old.
Location: NE47 6NN
Information: There's parking, toilets, a gift shop, a picnic area (they even provide picnic blankets for visitors to use during the summer), and of course the museum that is home to an exhibit with film footage and CGI recreations of the original Roman buildings.
Dog-friendly Northumberland
More ancient dog-friendly heritage sites:
Porthkidney Beach
We thought long and hard about which beach should take the top spot and, despite the many remarkable stretches of sand lining the British coast, decided you just cannot beat a Cornwall beach!
Porthkidney near St Ives is our pick at around 1 mile long with huge swathes of golden sand exposed when the tide is out, leaving plenty of space for dogs and their humans to race around and have a wonderful day beside the sea. It's dog-friendly all year round and there is access to the South West Coast Path too, so when Fido is finished chasing the lapping waves you can enjoy a dog walk with views of the bay.
Location: Church Rd, Lelant, Saint Ives TR26 3DY
Information: Limited parking, summer lifeguard service in place, local train station. While there are limited facilities by Porthkidney Beach, next door sits Carbis Bay home to a wealth of shops, pubs and restaurants.
Dog-friendly Cornwall
Escape on a getaway to this pet-friendly county to take in ancient features, family-friendly attractions, and impressive landscapes; begin planning with our guide to dog-friendly attractions in Cornwall.
More dog-friendly beaches across the UK:
- Robin Hood’s Bay, Yorkshire
- Bembridge, Isle of Wight
- Towyn Beach, Conwy
These are just of few of the fantastic coves and shores that line the coast of the British Isles, for more remarkable beaches both you and your four-pawed pup will love, explore our full guide to the UK's dog-friendly beaches.
Paw-friendly cottages
Find your perfect dog-friendly holiday cottage in the UK in our wide selection of accommodation. All across the UK, we have a wonderful range of cottages that welcome dogs and their owners offering special extras like enclosed gardens for pups to potter about in, unforgettable dog-walking trails on the doorstep, and wood burners for cosy evenings curled up in front of the fire.
From hot tub cottages to luxury lodges, you'll soon find your perfect dog-friendly retreat within our collection. Begin planning your holiday today.
Dog-friendly UK cottages