Love films, live for adventures, and wouldn’t dream of leaving the dog behind? This one’s for you. We’ve sniffed out some of the UK’s most iconic filming locations where you and your furry co-star can step into the scene.
From misty moors to golden beaches, this is your guide to dog-friendly destinations where movies meet walkies. Whether you’re following in Raynor and Moth’s barefoot footsteps along The Salt Path, or recreating Mr Darcy’s brooding stare on the edge of the Peaks, these cinematic locations come with open trails, dog-friendly pubs, and walk-all-day potential.
Castle Howard, Yorkshire
Brideshead Revisited (2008)
Where grandeur meets green space, Castle Howard is pure period drama. With its sweeping avenues, lakeside temples and Baroque opulence, it’s no wonder it took a starring role in Brideshead Revisited. Dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens and wider parkland, where paws can pad beneath ancient trees and noses twitch at wildflower meadows. There’s even a dog-friendly café in the Stable Courtyard, so you can both refuel before strolling back into your own version of an English country epic in Yorkshire.
Borrowdale, Lake District
Withnail and I (1987)
Melancholic and magnificently muddy – Borrowdale captures the wild poetry of Withnail and I like nowhere else. You can almost hear distant monologues on the breeze as you stride past craggy fells and moss-draped woods. With stick-fetching streams, dog-welcoming pubs and some of the UK’s finest fell walks, this part of the Lake District is made for hikes to Derwentwater and Castle Crag, before ending your day beside a log fire with your dog flopped at your feet.
Saunton Sands, Devon
The Salt Path (2024), Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Tom Cruise fought aliens here. Raynor and Moth walked towards hope. You? On this vast, dune-backed stretch of sand you’ll find plenty of space for ball chasing in the sea foam, and wind-in-fur adventures. Saunton Sands is dog-friendly year-round, and a dream backdrop for active dogs and their humans. Come for the cinematic sweep, soulful walkies and sand-in-your-paws kind of freedom.
Dartmoor, Devon
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)
Mists swirl, tors loom, and legends linger on Dartmoor – a wild moorland setting for Holmes’ most haunting case. Walk around Hound Tor and let your imagination (and your dog) run wild across this eerie yet beautiful landscape. Great for windswept hikes, story-soaked scenery, and muddy paws followed by fireside pints.
Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2010)
Freshwater West stole hearts – and broke them – as the location of Dobby’s final resting place in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. As powerful in real life as it is on screen, you don’t have to be a Potterhead to feel the magic of this wild Welsh beach. Dog-friendly all year, and made for sandy zoomies and coast path hikes, don’t be surprised if you end up staying on this part of the Pembrokeshire coast longer than planned.
Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland
Harry Potter (multiple)
Wave at the Jacobite steam train and curving across the Highlands at Glenfinnan, immortalised in the Harry Potter films as the Hogwarts Express. Dogs are welcome on the trails around the viewing point – so you can all soak up the cinematic scale of the Scottish Highlands together. Just add moody skies and a Thermos of tea.
High Peak, Derbyshire
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
That windswept, romantic Darcy-at-the-cliff moment? That was filmed at Stanage Edge near Hathersage. It’s just as dramatic in real life, where those jaw-dropping views come with epic walkies through the dramatic Peak District. Bring your boots, pack some snacks and let your dog lead the way across the moors, before resting up in a cosy cottage with an open fire.
Brighton, East Sussex
Brighton Rock (1948), Quadrophenia (1979), On Brighton Beach (2022)
A city of contrast and character, Brighton has long been a gritty-glam stage for British cinema. It’s where Pinkie strutted in Brighton Rock, mods clashed with rockers in Quadrophenia, and where the beach still buzzes with energy and edge. Wander the pier, chase waves on the pebbles, and watch seagulls steal your chips. With off-lead beach sections in winter and plenty of pup-friendly cafés, it’s a city-meets-seaside classic for cool canines and their hipster humans.
Alnwick Castle & Northumberland National Park
Harry Potter (2001), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
From broomstick lessons in the courtyards of Alnwick Castle to outlaw hideouts in the rolling hills beyond, this corner of Northumberland is pure film-set fantasy. Wander the grounds of Hogwarts’ most iconic stand-in, then explore one of the wildest, quietest national parks in England. Dogs are welcome on leads around the castle’s parkland, and off-lead adventures await on open moors and secret beaches nearby. Castles, coast paths, and endless stick-carrying opportunities – it’s the stuff of tail-wagging legends.
Holkham Beach, Norfolk
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Endless skies, tide-sculpted sands, and a finale worthy of the big screen. Holkham’s vast beach set the scene for the closing moments of Shakespeare in Love, and it’s just as moving with pawprints in the sand. Dogs are welcome all year, and with miles of open space backed by whispering pines and sweeping dunes, it’s a place for off-lead joy and wind-in-your-whiskers freedom.
Puzzlewood, Forest of Dean
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Step into the forest – and another world entirely. Puzzlewood’s ancient, moss-covered trees and twisted paths have starred in everything from Star Wars to Harry Potter. And the best part? It’s dog-friendly. Tucked in the heart of the Forest of Dean, here curious pups can sniff through gnarled roots and ferny gullies. Slow down and stay a while – it’s not every day you get to walk your dog through a galaxy far, far away.
Book a Set Strolling Holiday with Your Dog
Ready to walk in the footsteps of film stars and fictional heroes? Our dog-friendly holiday retreats put you centre stage in these unforgettable locations – from coast-hugging cottages to cabins in the hills. Fetch your lead, hit the road, and let the camera roll.
