Wonderful woodland walks, coastal storm watching, pawsome attractions and pet-friendly eateries serving up the season’s bounty… we love escaping to the colourful countryside in the autumn. When the summer crowds have dispersed there’s more space for Rover to roam the golden-tinged landscapes, plus cooler weather means there are so many more activities to enjoy with your four-legged friends. So, what are you waiting for? Here are some of our favourite things to do in autumn on a dog-friendly holiday.
Wander Through Autumn Woodland in Hampshire
Snuffling through fallen leaves, capering beneath colourful canopies, and frolicking in the forest… Autumn is a special time of year to make the most of the woodland playgrounds with your dog. Wander through magical glades and ancient woodland of the New Forest, one of the UK’s most dog-friendly forest parks and the paw-fect destination to lace up your walking boots and enjoy the crisp autumn air and golden foliage with your furry friend. Out of the vast web of New Forest walking trails to choose from, we love to experience the sizzling seasonal colours at Rockford Common, the leafy Denny Woods, and on the circular walk around Wilverley Plain.
Step Back in Time at Kenilworth Castle
Time travel 900 years into the past with your hound at your heels, at one of Britain’s biggest historical sites. Wander the mighty medieval keep, take in views from the top of the Tudor towers, and make paw-prints where Queen Elizabeth I once walked through beautifully recreated Elizabethan Gardens. Once at the forefront of a mighty siege and later transformed into a magnificent medieval palace, Warwickshire’s Kenilworth Castle is English Heritage’s top pick for an autumn day out with the dog. With a great choice of dog-friendly retreats in Warwickshire, the area is a convenient destination for an autumn break with a hound.
Hop Aboard the ‘Hogwart’s Express’ from Fort William to Mallaig
Harry Potter fans with dogs will relish the chance to hop aboard The Jacobite steam train for a journey beneath the 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct immortalised in the movies about the magical school of witchcraft and wizardry. However, your journey won’t actually take you to Hogwarts, instead chugging from Fort William to Mallaig, taking in scenery from the films, and capturing views of Britain’s highest mountain and deepest loch. While your four-legged friend may not appreciate the breathtaking scenery of the 84-mile round trip, they will love the stop at Arisaig to bound along beautiful white-sand beaches. The Hogwarts Express is one of the best experiences to enjoy this autumn on a dog-friendly getaway in the Scottish Highlands.
Walk the Wales Coast Path
Autumn is the perfect season to stomp along coastal trails and soak up the dramatic seascapes with your four-legged friend at your side. While many hikers hit the South West Coast Path in October, why not be different and tackle some of the 870-mile Wales Coast Path? Here you can choose from easy and accessible sections such as the Mawddach Trail between Barmouth and Dolgellau, bask in the autumn colours at Pembrey Forest, or step on the golden beaches of the Gower Peninsula on the Three Cliffs Walk. Hole up at the end of a long day in one of our beautiful Welsh cottages a short hop from the coastline.
Visit the National Trust’s Stourhead Estate
This world-famous Stourhead landscape garden in Wiltshire is at its most magical when autumn casts its colourful spell, and the fiery hues of the foliage are reflected in its glassy lake set amongst lawns and classical temples. Dogs are welcome to explore the enchanting grounds, and the shop, restaurant and courtyard are paw-friendly, too. Just be aware that pooches aren’t permitted in the Palladian-style villa – the first of its type to be built in England – and be sure to leave them at the bottom of the 160ft folly tower, from which you can witness panoramic views across three counties.
Storm Watch on the Outer Hebrides
When autumn storms whip the Atlantic into a wild and exhilarating frenzy, there’s nowhere more invigorating to experience the power of the elements crashing ashore than the remote Isle of Lewis. This dog-friendly destination is a wonderful spot to walk over the rolling machair and rugged sea cliffs to watch storms scud across the sea. When this remote outpost gets the full blustery force of the autumn weather, batten down the hatches in a cosy beachside cottage and watch the storms rattle in while you and your dog are snug beside the fire.
Dine on the Ocean’s Bounty in Devon
Autumn’s harvest brings with it an abundance of delicious ingredients to be devoured in the UK’s best dog-friendly pubs and restaurants. And while getting a table to dine with your pooch can be problematic in the busy summer season, when autumn comes, eateries are quieter and much more likely to have room for walk-ins on your walkies. Whether you’ve been trotting along the Tarka Trail or playing fetch on the golden sands of Instow Beach, your sandy-pawed pals will get a warm welcome at The Boathouse, Instow, where you can feast on sublime views alongside the finest local produce and seafood from North Devon.
Go Fossil Hunting in Dorset
Fossil hunting is a fantastic autumn beach activity to enjoy with kids and dogs in tow, and, sitting on the World Heritage Jurassic Coastline spanning 95 miles, Charmouth is one of the most popular, fossil-rich locations to sift through 185 million years of history. However, while your canine chums are welcome on the west side of Charmouth beach year-round, from 1 October the seasonal dog ban is lifted, so you can collect ammonites, echinoids and brachiopods, all the way to Lyme Regis at low tide – and when you get there dogs are welcome to join you in the Dinosaurland Fossil Museum.
Bound Along Three Miles of Golden Sands in Cornwall
Once summer’s bucket-and-spade brigades have packed up and gone home, beaches nationwide are reclaimed by walkers and their four-legged friends. The start of October is when many of the seasonal dog bans are lifted on beaches across Britain, meaning there’s miles more shoreline for frolicking in the waves and making paw-prints in the sand. While there are lots of year-round dog-friendly beaches in Cornwall, our favourite autumn escapade, once restrictions are lifted, is the three-mile stretch of white, sugary sands from Hayle Rivermouth to Godrevy Lighthouse, on the outskirts of St Ives. Play fetch, paws for a dip, splash in the sea foam and bask in the dunes – and when you get to Godrevy treat yourself to a homemade cake at the dog-friendly Godrevy Café.
Hike Up the UK’s Highest Peak in Cumbria
The Lake District is a stunning dog-friendly destination in every season, but in autumn this awe-inspiring landscape is ablaze with colour from its valleys to its peaks. And lucky for energetic dogs and adventurous dog owners, this is the best time of year to climb the fells with your dog in tow. The temperature’s cooler, but you’re unlikely to get snow underfoot, so why not take on England’s mightiest mountain, Scafell Pike? Or there are plenty of smaller hills to conquer, as well as lakeside walks, dog-friendly boat trips and cosy country pubs where your four-legged friend can curl up beside the fire while you sip a quenching local ale.
Caper Under the Canopies at Batsford Arboretum
Bound beneath the golden leaves of Giant Redwoods and Western Red Cedars and be amazed at the blaze of autumn colour at Batsford Arboretum. There’s an incredible 56 acres of botanical treasures to explore with your hound at your heels, and you can dive into the garden centre and café for a delicious dog-friendly pit-stop, green-fingered gifts and gardening supplies. It’s a lovely place to visit on an autumnal holiday with a dog in the Cotswolds.
Book A Dog-Friendly Cottage This Autumn
Feeling inspired to take a holiday with your dog this autumn? Check out our collection of dog-friendly accommodation in stunning locations around the UK and find the perfect base for your autumn holiday.
