12 dog-friendly attractions in the UK for days out
Date published: 01 Sept 2023
It’s the classic dog owner’s dilemma – you’re planning a family day out, but you need to find somewhere both your human and fur kids can come. We don’t believe any member of the family should be left at home, so we’ve rounded up our favourite dog-friendly attractions in the UK, where everyone’s welcome. Dog-friendly days out incoming…
1. Ffestiniog Railway
Location: Snowdonia
Best for: A fun steam train journey through the mountains
Snowdonia National Park is an adventure playground that dogs will love. Once you’ve exhausted the park’s millions of dog walks and mountain hikes or dog-friendly pubs, why not plan a day out with your dog on the Ffestiniog Railway? Chugging through lofty mountain landscapes and past flowing waterfalls, the world’s oldest narrow-gauge railway will happily carry dogs for a small fee of £5.
Dog-friendly place to stay: Wake up to the sound of streams and views of Cadair Idris at Ty’n Lon Isaf, a cosy stone cottage in southern Snowdonia.
2. Bolton Abbey
Location: North Yorkshire
Best for: Dog walks in the ruins of a Gothic Abbey
There’s no doubt that Yorkshire, or God’s Own County, is at the top of the list when it comes to dog-friendly destinations, replete with stunning scenery and fantastic walks. Bolton Abbey is beautifully Gothic, a ruined old priory that pokes out of the traditional Yorkshire Dales landscape of green rolling hills. Walk through the ruins, cross over the River Wharfe on the iconic stepping stones and wander through the enchanting Strid Wood. Fido will be in his element. There’s a water tap and dog parking outside all the gift shops, too.
Dog-friendly place to stay: The gorgeous Barn in North Yorkshire is the ideal family cottage, sleeping six and with countryside walks right out of the front door.
3. Blakeney Point seal trips
Location: Norfolk
Best for: Seeing seals in the wild
A colony of around 500 common and grey seals call the waters around Blakeney Point home. Boat trips from Morston Quay make for a great dog-friendly family activity. You’re all but guaranteed to see a seal – either basking on the sandbank or popping up around the boat. The seals have their pups from June until the end of August, so it’s a great time to visit, but the trips run every day from April ‘til October and regularly throughout winter too. Almost all the major operators, like Beans and Bishop’s, welcome dogs on board for free.
Dog-friendly place to stay: Stay at the brick-and-flint Hidden Loke Cottage, in Blakeney, for a classic North Norfolk stay, close to coastal paths and the quaint quay.
4. Lost Gardens of Heligan
Location: Cornwall
Best for: Admiring the beauty of the finest gardens in England
Well behaved dogs are welcome year-round at the stunning Lost Gardens of Heligan. This giant country estate in East Cornwall was genuinely lost to nature after WWII, before being rediscovered in the Nineties and restored to a paradise of tropical flowers, ancient woodland, English heathland and more. Heligan Kitchen is a superb pitstop for a creamy Cornish tea after you and the pooch have exhausted yourselves in the extensive gardens. Feel free to bring your dog’s water bowl as they’re more than happy to fill it up.
Dog-friendly place to stay: After a day exploring Cornwall, The Barn in Lanhydrock is a peaceful haven with a wood-fired hot tub and al fresco dining space.
5. Windermere Lake Cruises
Location: Lake District
Best for: Lakeside views of the Cumbrian fells
Dog-friendly days out are always better when they include a watery excursion. Windermere Lake Cruises in the Lake District offers dog-friendly cruises for free - and dogs are even presented with their very own ticket. The Lake District is super pet-friendly, so after your trip on the water, head to the villages of Ambleside or Grasmere and grab lunch in one of the many cafes and pubs, which welcome well-behaved pubs.
Dog-friendly place to stay: At the romantic Lake Lodge, you’ll sleep well in the four-poster bed, after a night spent watching the stars from the hot tub.
6. Cotswolds Wildlife Park
Location: Cotswolds
Best for: Animal lovers
The Cotswolds Wildlife Park has been dedicated to dogs since their very beginning, when they were the first zoo in the UK to allow dogs. You can roam outside freely with Fido (on a lead, of course), spotting giraffe, rhinos, tapir, zebra, camel and more. The only places they can’t go are inside certain areas, like the Bat Belfry and Reptile House, or in the Children’s Farmyard. Afterwards, you can explore the nearby gorgeous Cotswolds villages, or head out on a countryside stroll.
Dog-friendly place to stay: Quaint Appin Cottage is a cosy rural retreat with easy access to the Cotswolds villages of Chipping Norton and Burford.
7. Chatsworth House
Location: Peak District
Best for: Visiting an iconic stately home
While your dog may not care about Chatsworth House’s status as a period drama icon, featuring in the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, Fido will surely love exploring the extensive grounds of this Peak District property. Unlike some National Trust properties, dogs are allowed everywhere in the garden and parkland. So you can pad through curated sculpture gardens and wild woodland, before seeking post-walkies refreshments at the Carriage House Café. Doggy drinking stations are available here too. Plus, the gift shop’s stocked up with treats, toys and doggy accessories.
Dog-friendly place to stay: This charming cottage, dubbed the Love Nest, is perfect for couples. It’s near beautiful Bakewell, a 10 minutes’ drive from Chatsworth House.
8. Hadrian’s Wall
Location: Northumberland
Best for: Long dog walks along Roman ruins
Roman history comes to life in north of England’s Northumberland, where the majestic Hadrian’s Wall spans 72 miles across the boundary of England and Scotland. You and pooch can discover rare Roman artefacts at some of the renovated historic sites that lie along the wall, from Housesteads Roman Fort to the old Roman town of Corbridge. Walltown Crags is one of the best places to see the wall in all its well-preserved glory.
Dog-friendly place to stay: Beautiful, stone-built East Farm House is a 17th-century farmhouse that’s spot on for large families, with four bedrooms.
9. Smoo Cave
Location: Scottish Highlands
Best for: Cave systems and Caribbean-esque beaches
For anyone who hasn’t visited the North Coast of Scotland, drop everything and book now. With miles of turquoise waters on dog-friendly beaches that could be mistaken for a Caribbean island, and scenic drives through the mountain landscape of the Scottish Highlands, this is truly an adventure-lover’s paradise. Dramatic Smoo Cave is just one of the highlights - one of the largest sea caves in the UK, your four-legged friend will love sniffing around the cavernous rock pools.
Dog-friendly place to stay: Get away from it all at this Highlands lodge, which is nestled on the edge of beautiful Lock Oich, with panoramic views aplenty.
Find dog-friendly holiday cottages in the Scottish Highlands >
10. Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Location: West Yorkshire
Best for: Meandering among modern art
Wakefield, in Yorkshire, may be an unlikely destination for a world-class art museum, but it is home to some of the UK’s most famous sculptors. The Yorkshire Sculpture Park sprawls across acres of countryside, with pieces by Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore competing with the spectacular views. Furry friends are welcome on leads around the park, as well as in the Visitor Centre concourse, shop and café.
Dog-friendly place to stay: A converted barn that sleeps 10, the Tractor Store is ideally placed for exploring Yorkshire’s rolling hills, valleys and woodlands.
11. The Eden Project
Location: Cornwall
Best for: A world-class showcase of the natural world
You may be heading to Cornwall for its wonderful dog-friendly beaches, but you’re gonna want to make a pitstop at the famous Eden Project if you’re nearby. Plants from all over the globe are housed in enormous biomes and the outdoor gardens stretch on for 20 acres. You’ll need to take it in turns to visit the indoor biomes, as dogs aren’t allowed, but other than that you’re good.
Dog-friendly place to stay: Sebright is an idyllic wood cabin, with sweeping sea views, an outdoor decking and hot tub - perfect for a romantic break.
12. Unleashed at Wrenbury Hall Woods
Location: Cheshire
Best for: Testing out your dog's agility skills
Unleashed at Wrenbury Hall Woods is the ultimate in dog-friendly days out. In fact, it’s specifically for dogs. Set in three acres of Cheshire countryside, this adventure park for dogs is home to a secure park, woodland, a huge lake and an adventure play area with a tunnel, balance beams and jumps. There’s also a handy dog wash area for cleaning them up after all the fun. So, you can sit back and let them tire themselves out, without worrying about a thing.
Dog-friendly place to stay: The Grade II-listed Puddled Duck Cottage is every inch the cosy period retreat, with an AGA cooker, beams and woodburning stove.
Meet the author
Annabel JacksonAnnabel loves exploring new parts of the UK with her family, including French bulldog, Albie. They’re regular visitors to North Wales and Norfolk, but have also made some paw-some memories in the Peak District, Cotswolds, Highlands and Cornwall.
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