Dog-Friendly Weekends: 50 Breaks in Britain for You and Your Dog

by Lottie Gross

Dog-friendly Weekends is the first all-encompassing, practical and inspirational guidebook to dog-friendly holidays in Britain. Not only does it cover dog-friendly accommodation and pubs, but most importantly, each chapter offers a well-rounded weekend away, with recommendations on attractions where the dog is allowed and great walks for all abilities. Travel journalist and dog-travel expert Lottie Gross has spent several years travelling thousands of miles around Britain with her canine companions sifting out places which are truly dog-friendly from those which are simply dog-tolerant. Drawing on her experiences, and on her research as the Times Expert Traveller dog-friendly writer, she has come up with a unique guidebook that pinpoints all the best places to go and things to do when travelling around Britain with your dog. Going on holiday without your dog is never the ideal solution, which is why this book offers inspiration for 50 dog-friendly weekends away in Britain, including museums where you can take the dog inside on a rainy day, heritage railways where the dog rides free, and countless excellent walks the whole family can enjoy. Island-hopping, city breaks, and coast and countryside romps are all included, from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands. This is also a useful, practical guide that addresses the questions all dog-owners have to consider when travelling with their pets. Is there space by the table for my dog? Can the dog come down to breakfast? Can the dog be left in the room? Each place included has been vetted (no pun intended) by the author, whose first-hand experience is supplemented with contributions from experts on safe and responsible travel with your dog, ensuring every owner is well equipped to give the whole family a memorable break away.

256 pages, Paperback

Published July 15, 2022

Reviews

[Capn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to base my rating on my local area, as we haven't attempted any of the others yet. Our touristy town is brimming with pubs, and they list three to try, the first of which is NO DOGS ALLOWED, EVER* and a miserable "digital-free", "child-free" drinking pit for misanthropic farmers (I mean, so much that this fan of old-world gaslit pubs and ales has never actually stepped in farther than the front entryway - and then thought better of it).
*allowed in the 'back garden', which has no greenery at all and is literally 2 old wooden picnic tables in a bricked parking lot off a main thoroughfare next to the bus depot. I have yet to see a dog out there, and I think I've seen the odd ancient lone smoker, that's it.

The thing is, I'm wracking my brain trying to think of another pub here which ISN'T dog-friendly inside and out, and I can't think of one! They are ALL better choices than the one featured. I know of 2 cafes which are dog-free zones, but literally all of the rest seem to court doggos, and the main strip has at least 2 doggie goods stores and at least another 2 grooming salons. Millet's outdoor store has a dog food and water station out front, and staff who will come out from around the counter to PET your pooch.

So... for a fresh-off-the-shelf buy, the accuracy was low and didn't exactly inspire confidence in the other trip plans.

We like the ideas and photos anyway, and I'll update when we use it this spring and summer. But sadly I didn't feel that my smallish market town, featured as a destination, was at all properly researched or represented, because that particular picturesque pub is shunned by most locals (at least everyone I've ever met) and is (has always been, since stagecoach days?!) devoutly anti-pooch (and anti-fun, too). ;)

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

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