Holidays are a great time to bond with loved ones – pets included. As one of the world’s most pet-friendly destinations, the UK is full of incredible places that welcome cats and dogs and even have activities and treats to delight your furry friends! They offer the best places where you and your pet can spend time together, creating memories to last a lifetime.
Need ideas for your next getaway? Check out these pet-friendly holidays in the UK.
Wild Camping in the Peak District
Wild camping with your dog is a fantastic experience. It’s an exciting way to discover the wilderness through their eyes. Their presence alone elevates the experience as their curiosity and zeal for discovering the outdoors are contagious.
One of the best places to experience wild camping with your dog in the UK is the Peak District, a stunning national park in central England. It’s famous for its majestic valleys and plateaus, dramatic rolling hills, and jagged peaks. You and your pet can take scenic hikes on your wild camping adventure, with the Kinder Scout being the most popular trail. At 363 metres, it is the Peak District’s highest summit. It’s worth noting that wild camping is not legal in the Peak District. However, with proper planning and approach, the practice is well-tolerated.
Have a plan in place before you start packing your camping gear. Research where you can camp in the Lake District and know the rules about taking your dogs in the park. Don’t forget to bring your pet’s basic needs, such as food, water, and a place to rest. More importantly, keep your dogs on a leash and be mindful of others hiking or camping in the Peak District.
Glamping in The Lake District
If you are not yet ready to take on wild camping but want to take your dogs to sleep in the great outdoors, consider glamping, a more luxurious way to camp. Instead of pitching a tent and sleeping in the wilderness, you will stay in fully furnished accommodation, sometimes with luxury amenities like a hot tub and a private pool.
When glamping in the UK with your dog, consider the Lake District. Known for its stunning locations, it offers the perfect setting to unwind with your furry friends and reconnect with nature. Thankfully, many glamping sites in the Lake District allow pets on their premises. Some even have facilities for your pets and offer fun activities for you and your furry friend.
One of the glamping sites in the Lake District that allow dogs is Inside Out Camping. They offer furnished yurts spread across two campsites in the Borrowdale Valley. The spacious yurts are 16 feet in diameter and have futon-style beds. Each can accommodate a maximum of four guests and will provide a blow-up mattress for extra guests. Be sure to inform them you are bringing your dog so they can make necessary arrangements.
Road Trip in Scotland
Scotland is the best place for road-tripping in the UK with your pet. Driving in Scotland will take you through dramatic landscapes past majestic castles, scenic lochs, and stunning coasts. The country is wonderfully diverse, making it a fascinating place to visit.
As you take your pet on a road trip through Scotland, you can’t resist the urge to stop regularly for Instagram-worthy snaps. Along the way, you can stop for fantastic adventures like wild swimming in lochs and seas, hiking through lush jungles, and spotting amazing birds and animals.
The North Coast 500 is a popular driving route. Considered one of the most scenic road trips in the UK, the North Coast 500 will take you through windswept beaches, historic castles, and ancient ruins. You can tackle the route by starting from Inverness. Research the places to stop for a break with your pet. Since it’s a multi-day adventure, you must look for accommodations to stay along the way. Find out if any of them allow pets on their premises.
Canal Boat Hire in Wales
Another fun thing to do with your pet in the UK is canal boating in Wales. Canal boating is a fantastic way to soak up the outstanding beauty of the scenic waterways of Wales at a more leisurely pace. You will enjoy steering the barge through historic locks and into viaducts while stopping at some places to enjoy a scenic walk with your pet as you savour the incredible scenery and discover wildlife along the rivers and canals.
One of the most scenic routes for a canal boating holiday is the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, a small network of canals in South Wales. Unlike the many other waterways in the country, this canal network is significantly quieter, allowing for a more relaxing boating holiday with your pet.
Aside from being some of the quietest canal networks in the UK, the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is also among the most scenic canals. It passes through the Brecon Beacons National Park, renowned for its stunning landscape and is home to Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales. Another great option is to enjoy a canal boat in Llangollen, allowing you to see many of the top destinations in Wales.
Holiday Cottage Rentals in Cornwall
Cornwall has some of the UK’s most scenic landscapes, known for its gorgeous coast surrounded by rugged cliffs, making it a top destination for a beach getaway in the UK. What’s great about a holiday in Cornwall is many stunning cottages allow you to stay with your pets. Many of these holiday cottages are in stunning locations, with some offering easy access to the beach.
One of the things to consider when booking a holiday cottage rental in Cornwall is in which area you should stay. St Ives is a great choice, home to pet-friendly beaches and attractions. If you want to be close to restaurants offering delectable seafood, stay in Padstow, and indulge in mouth-watering seafood while admiring the River Camel at Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant.
When staying at a pet-friendly cottage in Cornwall, read the house rules carefully, especially about bringing pets. Many cottage rentals welcome pets as long as they are not over 10 kilos. Others will not allow bigger-sized pets, so this is something to consider if you have a big dog.