Spring is (finally) in the air, and the Easter holidays are just around the corner. As the days get longer and warmer, we can’t wait to take a break with our four-legged friends. After all, this is the perfect time of year to make the most of the UK’s dog-friendly attractions and beaches before the summer hoards descend.
So why not take a staycation in a different part of the country, without the need for a dog sitter or the hassle and expense of overseas travel? If you’re wondering where to go and what to do, let us inspire you with ten egg-citing activities to do this Easter with your dog.
1. Easter Adventure Quest at Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire
Enjoy a cracking, dog-friendly adventure around Whitby Abbey grounds, hunting for clues, undertaking challenges and discovering traditional Easter games like egg rolling and the egg and spoon race. The Easter Adventure Quest takes place every day of the school holidays, and successful adventurers will, of course, be rewarded with a tasty chocolate treat – for humans only. With so many stunning walkies wending from the coast to the countryside and plenty of pooch-friendly eateries to boot, it’s a wonderful time to visit Whitby and stay in one of our Yorkshire cottages.
2. National Trust Easter Egg Trail at Stourhead, Wiltshire
National Trust properties nationwide roll out egg hunts and fun family activities with a seasonal twist for the Easter holidays – many of which welcome Fido and friends. Pop on your bunny ears and spring into action at Stourhead, where you can follow the Easter trail and hop between nature-inspired Easter activities, on a mission to win a chocolate egg. Fido will love sniffing around the gardens on your egg-citing mission, and there are four longer dog-friendly walks to enjoy on the wider estate, before you head back and relax in one of our cosy cottages in Wiltshire.
3. All About Dogs Show, Newbury, Berkshire
Whether you want to take part with your dog or spectate, attending a dog show is a fantastic day out for the whole family and your four-legged friend. Take a dog-friendly Easter break in Berkshire, and head to the All About Dogs Show at Newbury Showground on 12-13 April, for a weekend packed with arena displays, expert advice and have-a-go activities. This is just one of the annual series of All About Dogs Shows, so if you can’t make this one, check out their website for other dates, such as the Easter weekender at Trinity Park in Ipswich.
4. Bure Valley Railway Easter Eggspress, Norfolk
Dogs are always welcome on the Bure Valley narrow gauge railway that crosses the Norfolk Broads, with lots of stops for picturesque walkies along the way. And if you hop aboard during the Easter holidays, the whole family is in for a treat. As well as the stunning scenery, there’s a free Easter egg for every child who completes the Easter Stamp Trail, Easter-themed lunch boxes, and afternoon teas at the dog-friendly Whistlestop Café. So why not take an Easter holiday at one of our Norfolk holiday cottages?
5. Scale Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon), North Wales
If you’ve got an energetic hound and fancy a challenge, why not embrace the adventure of climbing a mountain? Surrounded by stunning mountain scenery, reaching Wales’ highest peak is an awesome achievement that deserves the reward of an Easter egg for you and a dog treat for your four-legged friend! Covering 827 square miles of North Wales, Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park offers plenty of hikes suitable for families and dogs, whether you want to bag a mountain or find an easier route. Places to stay nearby include two dog friendly destinations of Llanberris and Beddgelert.
6. Birdland Park and Gardens, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswolds
Experience real eggs being laid this Easter, with a trip to Birdland Park and Gardens, where Spring marks the season when many birds begin courtship and dozens of eggs are laid across the nine acres of woodland and gardens. While your dog may not be able to differentiate between a hornbill and a penguin, they are welcome to join you as you take part in egg-themed talks, answer fun ornithological questions on an Easter quiz trail, and strike out on walkies through the miles of Cotswolds woodland terrain.
7. Wild Walk and Dip, Stackpole, Pembrokeshire
While many of the UK’s top coastal attractions and resorts can be busy over the Easter holidays, why not take the family and dog to find a little peace and quiet in Pembrokeshire? Here you and Rover can ramble through the Stackpole Estate to the golden shores of Barafundle Bay and Broad Haven, where water-loving dogs can play fetch in the lake. While the water is still a chilly 9-10C in spring, if you dare a quick splash it will certainly leave a spring in your step, and you’ll deserve a heart-warming soup in the National Trust café, before returning to the comfort of your dog-friendly holiday home in Pembrokeshire.
8. River Exe Cruise, Devon
Unsurprisingly, you and your dog might not be ready for a bracing sea or lake dip at Easter, so why not hit the water on a boat cruise instead? Devon’s beautiful Exe Estuary is usually sheltered and calm whatever the weather, making it the perfect place for you and your pooch to find your sea legs. Sit back on a heated boat deck with Stuart Line Cruises and you can soak up views of Exmouth’s coastline and Powderham Castle, on a scenic circular trip that welcomes dogs for free.
9. Walkies on the South West Coast Path, Cornwall
In Cornwall, there are hundreds of miles of walking trails to enjoy waggy-tailed Easter yomps with your hound. Some of our favourite sections of the South West Coast Path at this time of year include Watergate Bay to Mawgan Porth where the sea-pinks and gorse are bursting into bloom, and the Rame Peninsula where the wild hawthorn is blossoming. Discover more of our favourite dog walks in Cornwall, including a loop from Padstow to Polzeath via the Black Tor ferry and dreamy Daymer Bay.
10: Helmsley Walled Garden, North York Moors
Celebrate the onset of Spring at Helmsley’s stunning walled garden, where you can see the colours of the season breaking ground and bask in the therapeutic benefits of a day out in nature. Dogs are welcome everywhere from the gardens to the café, and plenty of water bowls are dotted around to quench their thirst. Book a Helmsley cottage or place to stay in nearby Pickering. And when you want to break free for a longer walk, you’re on the doorstep of the North York Moors and the Cleveland Way National Trail.
Hop Into Easter On A Holiday With Your Dog
Feeling inspired to try some egg-citing adventures with your dog this Easter? Check out our collection of paw-friendly cottages across the UK, or see what’s still available for the Easter holidays.
