If you’ve been dreaming of escaping to a winter wonderland with your best friend this year, then we’ve got just the guide for you. Compiled with all the top places for unforgettable getaways, we’ve found the snowiest places in the UK for you to enjoy a winter break with your dog.
From island retreats to mountain hideaways, the UK is surprisingly full of variety when it comes to snowy escapes. While snow, in all Mother Nature’s fickle glory, can never be guaranteed, you can certainly boost your chances of snowy success with our must-see list of places to visit. So, lace the snow boots, don the paw mitts and get ready for a magical holiday Jack Frost would be proud of.
Dog-Friendly Holidays: The UK’s Best in Snow
The Cairngorms, Scotland
Kicking off our list of the snowiest places in the UK is, well, actually the snowiest place in the UK. According to the Met Office, this beautiful mountain range in the eastern Highlands of Scotland boasts the highest average number of days of snowfall in the whole of the UK – a fact that is sure to cause a flurry of excitement and entice winter wonderers of all generations. Promising perfect snow-globe scenes with powdered mountain peaks and glistening snowflakes dancing in the air, this magical region will win over the whole pack.
Travel information: Cairngorms National Park
Nearby accommodation: Head for Aviemore, Grantown-on-Spey or Kingussie
The Orkney Islands, Scotland
An archipelago off the northernmost tip of Scotland, the Orkney Islands are surrounded by the icy waters of the North Sea and are a wonderful destination for wild escapes. Fortunately, thanks to their northerly location, these islands also benefit from a high number of snow days each year, averaging around 60 days of snowfall. Making it even more special for winter breaks with your dog, these islands are also some of the best places to see the Northern Lights in the UK – illuminating snowscapes with the mesmeric blue and green lights of the Aurora Borealis.
Travel information: Orkney.com
Nearby accommodation: See dog-friendly places to stay on Orkney
Scottish Highlands, Scotland
Think winter in the Scottish Highlands, think snow-coated mountains lining the horizon, freshly powdered branches drooping under the weight of their pristine white shawls, icicles dangling from every overhang and curls of smoke gently rising into the night sky from the chimneys of wood cabins and quaint stone cottages. Sound good? Yes, we think so too. With around 50 days of snow each year, the Scottish Highlands offer you some of the best chances of enjoying snow during a winter break with your dog in the UK. Oh, and there’s really good shortbread.
Travel information: VisitScotland
Nearby accommodation: Try Fort William, Inverness or Glencoe
The North Pennines, England
If you’ve been dreaming of making snowdogs and fur angels with your canine pal, then make way to the North Pennines this winter. The second largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England, the North Pennines run all the way from Carlisle in the West to Darlington in the east and feature some of the most wild and beautiful landscapes in the UK. Made all the more captivating when draped in untouched layers of glistening snow during the 50 snow-days a year (on average), few places are more enchanting. Wrap up, boot up and head out to walk, play and savour the scenes together.
Travel information: North Penines AONB
Nearby accommodation: Stay in Alston, Stanhope or Barnard Castle.
The Lake District, England
It’s true that Scotland enjoys the most amount of snow than anywhere else in the UK, but the Lake District in England isn’t far behind. Home to the highest fells in the country, the valleys of the Lake District National Park are graced with around 20 days of snow per year – a figure that can rise to nearly 70 in the mountains like Helvellyn, easily rivalling the snowiest places in Scotland. While snowy mountain walks should only be undertaken by the most seasoned of two and four-legged hikers, everyone can enjoy crunching snow under foot and paw in the valleys.
Travel information: Lake District National Park
Nearby accommodation: Check out Windermere, Ambleside or Coniston.
Brecon Beacons, Wales
If you’d started to give up on the idea of a snowy holiday in Wales with your pup, fear not, all hope is not frost. Sorry, lost. Despite the misleading name, Snowdonia isn’t actually the snowiest place in Wales. Instead, you should make your way over to the Brecon Beacons, a gorgeous mountain range in South Wales that is decorated with around 18 days of snow annually. While it’s a little difficult to plan breaks around the arrival of snow here, the sense of wonder is felt all the more keenly when it does make an appearance. Trust us, you’ll be completely spell-bound.
Travel information: Brecon Beacons
Nearby accommodation: Head for Crickhowell, Talybont-on-Usk or Brecon
