Dogs love taking in the sights and smells of new places and Northumberland has so much to offer for you and your dog.
From majestic castles and cultural hot spots to rolling hills and stunning parks that pay a spectacular tribute to the region’s mining past, there’s plenty to explore. Newcastle based pet blogger Rachel Spencer shares seven spots to visit for the pawfect day out with your dog.
Tynemouth
A regular day out for us with Patch. Tynemouth is a pretty town and regularly features in round ups of the Best Places to Live in Britain. For foodies, there’s Riley’s Fish Shack, a gorgeous eatery made from shipping containers right on the beach where dogs are allowed.
Jay Rayner described it as ‘the eating experience of the year’. At the weekend, there’s a food and craft market at the Railway station too, and the Head of Steam always give Patch biscuits!
The beach is mostly dog friendly apart from a section that’s families only in the summer, and you must check out Tynemouth Priory and Castle – it’s perfect for a picnic.
Corbridge Roman Town
Step back in time at Corbridge Roman Town which was built in the first century AD and is part of the 73 mile long Hadrian’s Wall frontier. The ruins were once part of a bustling market town and you can wander around where shops, workshops and temples once stood with your dog on their lead.
There’s a museum on site which dogs aren’t allowed in but inside you will find the Corbridge Hoard, a time capsule of relics dating back 2000 years which was excavated in 1964.
Afterwards you can explore Corbridge town, where you’ll find shops and cafes. Try The Angel which dates back to 1569 for dog friendly rooms and doggy snacks.
Learn more about Corbridge at the English Heritage site.
Lindisfarne Priory
The ruins are breathtaking and Lindisfarne – known as Holy Island – is steeped in history and heritage as one of the most important centres of English Christianity.
We love exploring the grounds of the 12th century priory and there are lots of dog friendly places you can stay from holiday cottages to the Lindisfarne Inn where staff dash over to dish out doggy biscuits.
See the puffins, seals and other wildlife and you’ll find lots of walking routes to suit all activity levels plus shops, cafes and galleries.
For art lovers, visit John Tierney’s gallery, he’s an acclaimed artist who has showcased his heavenly Lindisfarne paintings all over the world and he lets dogs in.
There’s lots of information to plan your trip on the National Trust site.
Aln Valley Railway
The Aln Valley Railway used to link Alnmouth to Alnwick – home to Alnwick Castle, the setting for the Harry Potter films – and the railway station is now a magical visitor attraction.
Harry Potter fans will love it and your dog can enjoy a ride on the train (please note they aren’t allowed on the seats) and there’s lots of walks nearby.
Be sure to visit the Old Waiting Room cafe in Barter Books situated inside the station building. It’s dog friendly and perfect for taking Instaworthy shots of your pup as you can see from our friend @dougthepugtherapydog’s posts.
As well as a model railway between the book shelves, it’s home to the original Keep Calm and Carry On posters. Learn about what’s in store at here.
Dunstanburgh Castle
Dogs are allowed around the incredible ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle and it’s no surprise that the walk from nearby Craster was voted in the top 100 walks in the UK.
We took Patch and while the steps going up the turrets of the castle can be narrow at times, he was able to happily potter around and loved staring out to sea.
Apart from the steps it’s a relatively easy walk and afterwards you’ll find a number of dog friendly pubs serving traditional food and locally sourced seafood like The Jolly Fisherman.
See what’s on at Dunstanburgh Castle here.
Simonside Hill, Rothbury
If you enjoy a challenging walk with spectacular views then you will love the climb up Simonside Hill, which is part of Northumberland’s National Park.
Dogs can roam off lead but there are some drops the higher up you go, so be careful, and be sure to take your camera as when in season, the hill is covered in beautiful purple heather.
It’s quite a tough walk, so wear sturdy boots, and in Rothbury you’ll find plenty of cafes and pubs selling hearty food and drinks to reward yourselves afterwards.
For a variety of routes around the hill to suit all levels see here.
Northumberlandia
A spectacular community park built on an old mine, Northumberlandia is also known as the ‘Lady of the North.’ In the centre of the park is a sculpture of a reclining lady which was designed by American artist Charles Jencks and is simply breathtaking.
Dogs are allowed all the way around the park but must be kept on leads and the paths are accessible for wheelchairs.
Thinking of visiting Northumberland with your dog? Take a look at our range of dog friendly cottages in Northumberland.
