Twixmas: The gentle exhale after the festive frenzy. The hush before the New Year chimes. The perfect time to slow down and press pause. Cue time for a getaway with your four-legged friend.
Walkies on frosty trails and wide-open beaches groomed by winter tides. The cosy glow of dog-friendly cafés, inns and cottages beckoning you in from the cold.
Here’s our top ten destinations for a Twixmas ‘paws’ with your dog.
1. Padstow, Cornwall
The crowds are gone, the beaches are almost empty, and the shops and galleries stay open between the bank holidays. Padstow has it all for a Twixmas break with your pooch. Hit the coast path to white-sand coves made for stretching legs and paws, strip off for a sea dip, hop on the ferry to Rock with Rover, and shelter in harbourside hideaways – from the traditional Harbour Inn to the swanky Ruby’s Bar.
2. Haworth – Brontë Country, West Yorkshire
Fancy walkies on frost-kissed moors that stretch as far as the eye can see? With quaint country villages and cosy, dog-welcoming pubs? Then Twixmas is the time to head to Yorkshire’s Haworth, wander the hills that inspired the Brontës, and let the hush of the Dales wash over you. It’s peaceful, pooch-friendly territory, and utterly restorative.
3. Snowdonia National Park, Wales
Cosy up in Beddgelert at the heart of Snowdonia for a Twixmas escape with your canine companion. Step foot and paw on mountain trails, riverside paths, and frosty forest tracks, then thaw out in dog-friendly inns like The Royal Goat, and flop by the fireside in a cosy cottage surrounded by the spectacular scenery. Looking to stay nearby? Take a look at our dog friendly cottages near Snowdonia.
4. Keswick, Lake District
Serving up lashings of lakeside charm and fell-side adventure, Keswick is the paw-fect Twixmas destination for fresh air and fireside warmth with Fido. When Derwentwater shimmers under the low winter light, no chill will stop you heading out for lakeside walks with your four-legged friend. When you’ve had your fill of hilltop views and woodland wanderings, dog-friendly cafés and inns like The Dog & Gun are ready to welcome you for a cosy refuel. Look for dog-friendly places to stay in the Lake District.
5. Bakewell, Peak District, Derbyshire
Where better to base yourself for a Twixmas hike in the hills with your hound than the town that’s home to the iconic Bakewell tart? Once you’ve tackled the Peak District‘s dramatic dales and riverside trails on winter walks, reward yourself with the region’s traditional sweet treats at dog-friendly cafés, or find a fireside corner in cosy pubs like The Rutland Arms. Now that’s a proper restorative recharge with Rover.
6. Aviemore, Cairngorms, Scotland
Seeking a truly wild and invigorating Twixmas escape with your four-legged friend? The Cairngorms National Park delivers in spades. Highland trails, lochs, and snow-dusted forests beckon you out into rugged scenery for winter walkies, while dog-friendly inns welcome you inside with roaring fires and hearty fare. For dogs and humans that love crisp mountain air and cosy retreats, there’s no better spot to recharge than Aviemore and the Caingorms between Christmas and New Year.
7. Southwold, Suffolk
Pastel beach huts, golden dunes, and the comforting glow of heritage pubs – Southwold’s winter charm makes a Twixmas break with your dog feel wonderfully warm and simple. Wander the pier in the morning chill, let your pooch race along empty beaches while you breathe in the sea air, then retreat to a dog-friendly inn and flop by the fire with a pint of Adnams locally-brewed ale.
8. Dunster, Somerset
Head to Dunster with your dog for a peaceful pooch-friendly Twixmas between Exmoor and the coast. Wander woodland and riverside trails through rolling countryside, or meander the cobbled streets of the medieval village, ducking out of chill into dog-friendly pubs like The Luttrell Arms, where a roaring fire and fine local food awaits.
9. Bamburgh, Northumberland
Imagine miles of empty, windswept sand beneath brooding skies and a castle rising from the dunes — welcome to Bamburgh in Twixmas. Capture the perfect winter coastal scenes on camera while your dog bounds along the shoreline, visit the dog-friendly Bamburgh Castle and warm up in dog-friendly cafés and pubs like The Potted Lobster. Read our dog-friendly guide to Bamburgh and find out more about this northern gem that’s the ideal head-clearing escape with your pooch.
10. The Cotswolds, Wiltshire
Experience a fairytale winter break among the honey-coloured cottages of Castle Combe, where you can step straight into the Cotswolds for countryside rambles with Rover. Wander along the Bybrook River, explore woodland trails, or climb to a vantage point for sweeping views of the village and hills. When the chill chases you inside, duck into the dog-friendly Castle Inn for food and drink beside the crackling fire – while your pup enjoys a treat of their own.
Book a Twixmas Break with Your Dog
Whether you and your canine crave empty beaches, cosy fires, or a winter adventure in the hills, browse our dog-friendly retreats for the perfect pad to reset between Christmas and New Year.
