Planning a summer holiday with your dog? From sandy paws and salty fur, to festival fun with Fido, the UK is packed with adventures and events for you and your four-legged friend. Whether you’re seeking swimming holes or seaside train rides, here are some of our favourite things to do with your dog this summer. All you need is a cottage near the action.
Boating on the Norfolk Broads
Love messing about on the water on a summer’s day? It’s even better with your furry friend on board. Rent a dog-friendly day boat on the Norfolk Broads and drift along winding waterways, stopping off for pub lunches and riverside strolls. There’s no better way to explore this slow-paced landscape – and most boat hire companies welcome well-behaved dogs.
Fancy somewhere else with your salty sea dog? From marine safaris in Norfolk, to scenic sailing in the lakes, we’ve got the lowdown on the UK’s best dog-friendly boat trips for summer fun on the water.
Waterfall Walks in the Brecon Beacons
Woodland shade, the sound of rushing water, and a chance for a paddle – sound like your kind of summer day out with the dog? The Four Falls Trail in the Brecon Beacons is one of our favourite walks for hot paws. This circular route leads you past (and behind) a series of dramatic waterfalls, with plenty of refreshing stops where you and your pooch can plunge into cooling pools beneath the falls.
Beach Day at Camber Sands, East Sussex
Scampers through sea foam, frisbee chases, and naps in the sun… Camber Sands is a dog-friendly paradise perfect for chasing summer beach days and filling your camera roll with memories. Pack a picnic, roam the rolling dunes, and cool off with a splash in the sea — it’s no wonder this East Sussex gem is a firm favourite for dog lovers come summer.
Looking for more dog-friendly beaches with zero summer restrictions? Read our blog on quiet beaches for summer days with your dog.
Paddleboarding on Lake Windermere, Cumbria
Big skies, glassy water and a steady board… SUP with your pup is one of the most joyful ways to get afloat in summer. Most dogs take to it faster than you’d expect – all you need is a calm stretch of water, a canine lifejacket, and a willingness to get a bit wet. The Lake District is the perfect launch pad, where you can hire your gear from Windermere Canoe Kayak and enjoy a gentle glide with the fells rising all around.
Wild Swimming at Loch Morlich, Cairngorms
Golden sand meets freshwater swims at this lochside beauty in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. Dogs can paddle, splash and chase sticks in the shallows of Loch Morlich, while you cool off with mountain views. As well as a forest-backed beach for basking, there are plenty of trails wending through the woodland, making it a stunning spot to stretch legs and paws before or after your dip.
If wild swimming is the kind of activity that will get you amped for action this summer, check out our other top spots for dips with your dog – from tidal pools in Cornwall, to swimming holes in Snowdonia and rivers in Norfolk.
Hiking the Rhossili Headland, Gower Peninsula, Wales
Clifftop trails, swooping seabirds and endless coastal views – Rhossili is not only one of the most stunning dog-friendly beaches in Britain – it’s a midsummer dream for dogs and their humans. Dubbed the ‘supermodel of British beaches’, this Gower Peninsula beauty is a sublime sandy playground for frolics with your four-legged friend, while the surrounding headland offers endless walkies with dramatic scenery. If you time it right with the tides, you can even cross the causeway to Worm’s Head for an unforgettable coastal adventure with your canine.
Seaside Train Ride on the North Yorkshire Moors
Dogs ride for free on the classic carriages of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, that trundles from Pickering to Whitby – the perfect lazy-day outing to explore from moors to beach. Hop aboard and watch the heather-clad hills roll by, and hop off at postcard-pretty stations for tea breaks and waggy-tailed wanders. At the end of the line, Whitby’s winding lanes, abbey ruins and fish and chips by the harbour make the perfect finale to a dog-friendly day on the rails.
Climb Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh
City breaks with your dog can be a delight in summer – especially in one of the UK’s most dog-friendly cities with a dormant volcano in its midst. Once you’ve trotted along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, take in the sights from the top of Arthur’s Seat, where wide-open parkland peaks with panoramic views of the city, coast and countryside. It’s steep in places, but well worth the walk, and there’s plenty of space for off-lead gallivanting and paw-friendly picnics.
Catch a Dog-Friendly Festival
Canine carnival games, sizzling street food, and pet goodies galore – dive into summer days at a dog-friendly festival. Join in agility courses at the Chatsworth Country Fair in Derbyshire, get wet with have-a-go watersports at Paws in the Park in Kent, and – if food’s top of your festival fun – head to the North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival.
Check out more of our top dog friendly events this summer and book a dog-friendly cottage for your festival fix.
Dog Ice Cream Tasting at Salcombe Dairy, Devon
After a salty walk along the South West Coast Path or a paddle in the shallows of South Sands, swing by Salcombe Dairy on the quay for a well-earned cool-down. While you savour a scoop of honeycomb or clotted cream vanilla, your four-legged companion can tuck into their very own Scoop’s Ice Cream for Dogs – a dog-friendly blend designed for cool canines on the sunniest day. It’s a refreshing way to cool down during a summer dog-friendly getaway in Devon.
Book Your Dog Friendly Holiday Cottage for Summer Fun
So, will it be paddleboarding and picnics, or woodland and waterfall walks? Browse our collection of dog-friendly holiday cottages and find your base for the ultimate UK adventure – wagging tails and sandy paws guaranteed.
