Holidaying with Dogs

Yes, great pic. Our lurcher would have been looking for rabbits😄. 

Don’t any of you find it very limiting and restrictive to take a dog with you on holiday?  I think of people who come to Devon and Cornwall.

No National Trust houses. No RHS gardens like the one at Rosemoor, no museums like the maritime museum at Falmouth, no art galleries, no entry to the big biomes at the Eden Project, no bike hire on the Camel trail or the Tarka trail, no swimming at Tinside lido on a day like this, no going into the Plymouth aquarium on a wet day, nor into the cathedrals at Exeter or Truro, not even shopping.

From the posts so far it sounds as though you just walk about.    Is that it? 

We tried teaching our Westie the Existentialism in Dali paintings but she seemed quite bored by them so we just let her get on with chasing Squirrels. 

Some club sites that spring to mind that have decent dog walking opportunities.

Yellowcraig, Breamish, Derwentwater, Coniston, Kendal, Knaresborough, Southport, Wirral CP, Sandringham, Buxton, Carsington Water, Broadway, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Clumber Park, Exeter Racecourse, Warwick Racecourse, Hunters Moon, Marazion, Rookesbury Park, Fields End Water, Thetford, Chatsworth, Stamford, Bolton Abbey, Freshwater, St.Davids, Lady Margarets Park.

Happy dog walking to those that have them.

ps I'm sure I've forgotten a few.

I think two of our best "dog" holidays have been at Sutton on Sea and Black Knowl when we took the bikes and a dog trailer. It was quite a new thing to do then. At Sutton the miles of traffic free promenade with big sandy beaches was ideal. Black Knowl, which we visited a lot, has miles of forest paths which connect up in all directions, very successful adventures.

We had two dogs then but now just one tiny rescue one, she was 3 this week and loves her van holidays. We have rented cottages but she doesn't seem to like "strange" places so the van is ideal. 

PS No Euror, we don't miss out and dogs are increasingly welcome at many places, (even cathedrals) if not we just take it in turns to visit. We're not glued together! 

No it's not restrictive, Euro. Of course it depends very much on your activity tastes but most NT houses allow dogs in the grounds (eg Saltram, Lanhydrock) and anyone wishing to visit the houses can do so by taking it in turns - it’s no hardship. There are ways around things and having a dog encourages you to seek out the woodlands, headlands, moorlands, beaches where dogs are welcomed. I guess it’s a matter of attitude and whether you are prepared to put the dog's needs ahead of your own wishes.

No dogs when hiring a bike on the Camel trail? Really - what have I missed?

You can hire dog trailers on the camel trail. It's got just about every aid to travel. We used to walk it part way with our dogs from a CL, it could get very busy!

That’s what I thought, Brue.

It's a good place go for anyone staying in the area with dogs. Similarly, the Plym Valley Trail on the edge of Plymouth is a good and shady walk, or ride, for dogs.

My advice to fellow dog owners is to remember that we are sharing the site with non-dog owners ,who some don’t always appreciate being close to dogs ,so think how you walk your dog to the dog walk or off site walk and take a wide berth of someone’s pitch that way it won’t have an “accident “ on their pitch and everyone’s happy 

In other words, follow the rules👍🏻