As a nation that’s mad about dogs, we love to take our four-legged friends on holiday with us. This is all very well when you’re frolicking on the beach or flopped in a pooch-friendly pub, but the trip to get there is less fun if your dog isn’t used to long car journeys. To break up the ride and let Rover stretch his legs en route, here are some pit stops your pooch will enjoy when you’re travelling around the UK.
En route to the Lake District and Scotland
Tebay Services, Penrith, Cumbria
M6 J38/39
While we’d wholeheartedly advise you to skip most of the motorway services, Tebay Services is in another league, and a must-stop destination with your dog if you’re heading this far north. You don’t have to walk far to inhale the fresh mountain air and views of the fells; there are dog-friendly footpaths in both directions where you can gawp at the peaks of the Howgills, and your pooch can get a sense of the adventures ahead. While you’re there, you can also stock up holiday supplies and doggie treats in the farm shop filled with delicious produce – most of which is gathered from within a 30-mile radius.
Tatton Park, Cheshire
10 minutes from M6, J19
Surely 1,000 acres of parkland will make your dog’s ears prick up on a long car journey north to the Lake District or Scotland? Then hop out at Tatton Park for walkies in the deer park and woodland, where you can climb to stunning viewpoints and picnic on the banks of the meres. There are five wonderful walks to follow (dogs should be kept on leads from 1 May to 31 July to protect the deer calves), and you can also take your dog on a lead in the formal gardens.
En route to Yorkshire
Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire
1 mile from A1 Apleyhead Interchange
Take a break at this National Trust site where you and Rover can roam over 20 miles of trails through parkland and woodland. It’s not only the spectacular 3,800-acre estate with a huge Serpentine Lake, ornamental bridge and landscaped gardens that make this a dreamy spot for dogs; it’s also the place where the Clumber Spaniel breed was developed when the estate was home to the Duke of Newcastle, and dogs have their own dog-friendly café called Central Bark where you can head for a cuppa and a treat. It makes the ideal break if heading to or from a dog-friendly holiday in Yorkshire.
En route to Kent and Dover
Shorne Woods, nr Gravesend, Kent
M2, Junction 1
If you’re dashing to Dover or the Kent coast with your dog, stop at Shorne Woods and make the most of 290 acres of wetlands and woodland where dogs and kids can let off steam. There are way-marked paths where Fido can frolic off the lead, adventure play areas for the kids, and a pond where your pooch can cool off on the car journey. If you haven’t brought a picnic, no doubt you’ll want to fuel up in the dog-friendly café before hitting the road again.
En route to the Devon, Cornwall and the South West
Teals, South Cadbury, Somerset
5 mins off the A303 at Sparkford
If you’re hungry on the road and care about the provenance of what you eat, pull over at this food market and eatery, where you can fill your bellies and your baskets with the finest food in the region. Stretch your legs and run the dogs and children in the fields and orchard before tucking into vibrant seasonal plates or grabbing nourishing food boxes and bakery goods to go. It’s also the perfect spot to grab ingredients for your holiday, including locally-reared meats from the traditional butcher, store cupboard specials, natural wines and dog treats. It’s a lovely stopover if you’re heading from London and the South East for a dog-friendly stay in Cornwall or Devon.
Fyne Court, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA5 2EG
20 minutes off the M5, J25
If you’ve ever stopped at Bridgwater Services with your dog, you’ll probably wish you’d pushed on another 20 minutes to swap the expensive refuel and lack of dog-friendly facilities for woodland walkies at Fyne Court. Here you can follow dog-friendly trails through the trees and meadows, join in family-friendly activities and tuck into hearty food and drink in the café. You might need to towel off muddy paws, but it’ll mean your four-legged friend and the rest of the family are content all the way to the South West.
Cotswold Water Park, Gloucestershire
20 mins from M4, J16 near Swindon
Close to the A417, Cotswold Water Park is only a short detour whether you’re making a beeline for dog-friendly Wales or the M5 to the beautiful South West. With 180 lakes spread over 42 square miles, it’s a scenic spot for a stroll with your four-legged friend, and there’s plenty of water-based fun for active family members, from sailing to aquaparks. Choose to stretch your legs or make a splash, then re-gather at the dog-friendly café for snacks before piling back into the car.
En route to Norfolk and Lincolnshire
Ashridge Estate, Hertfordshire
26 min from M1, J8
Swap the monotony of the M25 or M1 for romps across rolling chalk downlands, through lush meadows and under the canopies of ancient woodland. Rover will be relieved to take a break to explore the Ashridge Estate, and with 80 miles of paths, you’ll get a good leg stretch, too. Just ensure you keep your dog on a lead around the sheep grazing on the Ivinghoe Hills, close to wild deer on the estate, and back in the café and shop, where you’ll find water bowls and doggie treats at the ready.
Thetford Forest, Norfolk
Just 2 mins off the A11
If you’ve got time for a longer break on your road trip with the dog, lose yourself in Thetford Forest’s patchwork of pines and heathland. With miles of trails through the forest, it’s perfect for a dog walk, and The High Lodge visitor centre offers facilities including an adventure play area and a café where dogs are welcome outside. It’s the ideal spot for your four-legged friend to let off steam on the long car journey to your dog-friendly holiday home in Nortfolk or Lincolnshire.
Planning a holiday with your four-legged friend?
Book your dog-friendly holiday cottage and stay somewhere special in the UK. And don’t forget to break up the journey with a stop at one of these places along the way. For more happy travels, check out our tips to keep dogs happy on long journeys and see our guide to the most dog-friendly motorway service stations.
