My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

The doghouse

Days out with a dog that are not just 'walking through woods'

57 replies

soupdragon321 · 17/02/2020 10:49

Hi, I'm a total city girl - love a city day out, but now we have a dog and I'm struggling as I hate long dog walks through fields. I am so BORED of them. DH and DS1 +DS2 love yomping through forests etc with the dog but I do not, yet we want to spend family time together. Can anyone recommend good cities for days out with a dog? We have done Lincoln which was great - lots of dog friendly shops and restaurants etc, but can anyone recommend any more?

OP posts:
Report
BigFatLiar · 17/02/2020 10:54

Have you tried activities with your dog?
Training, agility, flyball, canicross

Report
soupdragon321 · 17/02/2020 10:56

Hi BFL - thank you but that was not what the post was about.

OP posts:
Report
Mintjulia · 17/02/2020 10:56

I choose a stretch of Canal, walk to the next canal pub or village, have lunch, walk back. Most canal pubs have outside tables.

Report
FaceClothParty · 17/02/2020 10:59

Google dog friendly towns there are lists. We took foster dog to the pub, interesting walk there and then he’d flop.

Report
Wolfiefan · 17/02/2020 11:00

Some attractions allow dogs. We have been to the Cotswold wildlife centre. Also love a blast on the beach.

Report
ineedaholidaynow · 17/02/2020 11:03

Ddog loves the beach.

He also loves agility. I know it isn’t what you asked but you need to consider the dog not just you wanting to go round shops which allow dogs.

Report
CMOTDibbler · 17/02/2020 11:04

I've been to Cardiff with my dogs, and they like the mix of a great park and things to look at

Report
puptent · 17/02/2020 11:05

You don't say how far you have to travel to places but anywhere in London is perfect. You can go to Battersea Park which has lots of interesting parts - gardens/fields/art/cafe and then along to the Power Station village (Circus West) for lots of really good doggo-friendly restaurants and also meander up to Sloane Square for e.g. for shopping where no one will bat an eyelid if you take doggo into a shop (Zara for e.g.) Perfect dog day!

Report
AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 17/02/2020 11:06

If you're near Cardiff then St Fagans is an open air museum that's dog friendly (except some inside areas)

Report
mumsiedarlingrevolta · 17/02/2020 11:07

Windsor very dog friendly.

Lots of shops put out water and biscuits. Lots of dog friendly pubs.

It's got everything-you can walk through the town or along the river, wander down Eton High Street and the Long Walk behind Windsor Castle is very scenic and dog friendly.

Report
BigFatLiar · 17/02/2020 11:11

I think if you look online for places that are dog friendly they'll focus on the dog rather than the family. Depending on how long you have just go and make the most of it. Provided you have dog friendly accommodation you'll probably find pubs and parks to spend the day in. A dog is usually a big problem if you're looking at museums, NT Houses etc as dogs are seldom allowed in (other than assistance dogs). Though DS1 or 2 may be happy to walk the dog while you look around. Try a seaside place like brighton though again dogs are often not allowed on the beaches.

Report
AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 17/02/2020 11:11

Also, for some reason it seems to be a universal truth that anywhere specialising in vegan food is very dog friendly! I'm not vegan myself but the local vegan deli always has free vegan dog treats (DDog reliably spits them out Blush) and the vegan junk food shop is always thrilled to see dogs.

In the summer, you often get fun dog shows of varying sizes, from village shows to things like dogfest.

Report
soupdragon321 · 17/02/2020 11:44

Ooh these sound great! Will definitely look into Windsor and also the London walks. It’s not that I want to go round shops, I just like looking at and walking past a variety of things not just trees and mud 😉. And as much as I love museums and galleries, I’m aware that they’re not the most dog friendly places so am in need of alternatives. Some of us just find the great green outdoors boring, if it’s always the same. I love buildings and architecture! Would love to hear of other places too. We are happy to drive anywhere (we live in the midlands) and often drive 2-3 hours away just for a day trip

OP posts:
Report
soupdragon321 · 17/02/2020 11:55

And places where we can let the dog off the lead would be great too ☺️

OP posts:
Report
VanillaSugarr · 17/02/2020 12:06

Be careful round Market Harborough as there have been some dog thefts by the railway tunnel. My local dog walking buddy told me about it.

Report
Havannahh · 17/02/2020 12:07

Why not look at getting a few "pets welcome" and easy walking routes type guidebooks?

My normal dog walking routes are;

Through town streets (assorted)
On a playing field
In a nature park (grazing animals)
In a forest (endless variations)
In a wood
On a common (grazing animals)
Through a town
Along a river ( × 4 seperate sites)
On the coast (a further drive)
Several other nature reserves all very different

... I'm the type who enjoys nature and is bored by looking at old buildings, but off the top of my head I can think of several sites of historical interest near me that I could walk the dog at (ruins, old stately homes etc), at least... three(?) Heritage trails with specific boards to read/see things along the way, go geocaching or pokemon playing- or I forgot it's name but the game that the pokemon map is based on.

Worth talking to your local tourist info centres

Report
ineedaholidaynow · 17/02/2020 12:09

Obviously not relevant at the moment but in hot weather always be mindful of the temperature of the pavement when walking a dog in town.

Report
BigFatLiar · 17/02/2020 12:49

Tried Avoncroft Museum (South of Brum) or Blists Hill at Ironbridge?

Report
CMOTDibbler · 17/02/2020 13:22

I've taken the dogs to Avonscroft and it was really good, though you can't take the dogs inside the buildings.
Croome Court (NT) is dog friendly and has lovely grounds to combine a really good walk with a Capability Brown landscape

Report
mumsiedarlingrevolta · 17/02/2020 13:24

@soupdragon321
you can walk off lead on the Long Walk up until you reach the Deer Park-they have to be on lead once inside.
You can walk along the Thames a long way and that is also off lead-although look out for nesting swans.

There are also lovely walks (think more to your DH and DC taste) around lake at Virginia Water where they can be off lead except for by the cafe.

West Wittering Beach is glorious and dogs allowed on the beach and off lead in the winter months. Cafe is dog friendly for lunch after!

Cliveden also lovely walk and primarily off lead although leads needed by the house.

Not sure where you live or how far you want to go?

Report
mumsiedarlingrevolta · 17/02/2020 13:25

*just realised you did post where you live Blush

Report
Girlwhowearsglasses · 17/02/2020 13:31

I find in general National Trust places are good- although they do have individual rules. Usually the garden allows dogs, but if the main garden doesn’t there’s usually a wider area also owned by NT with walks (in woods- sorry Wink) what we do is take turns to have the dog in he garden while the other adult goes in the house/castle/whatever with one or all the kids, then swap - with lunch in between. Sissinghurst, Bodiam Castle, Packwood House, Baddesley Clinton are just a few that we’ve done this with.

In London you know you can take dogs on the foreshore? The South Bank is Greg for a day out, wander on the foreshore, take turns to go in the Tate or have lunch somewhere.

Canal walk with pub lunch. ?

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

SutterCane · 17/02/2020 13:33

Check out The Modern Antiquarian and The Folly Fellowship for lots of historical sites and interesting buildings. Lots involve walks in the countryside to get there but there are more urban ones as well.

Report
ItsHAVEnotOF · 17/02/2020 13:42

@mumsiedarlingrevolta

Planning on taking my dogs to Windsor later this week, can’t wait! Only place I haven’t ever seen any in is Daniel’s and Waitrose obvs. Other than that there’s dogs in Windsor everywhere.
Already know one of my 2 will see the swans and try to pull me head first into the Thames.

Report
Takingabreakagain · 17/02/2020 13:44

The Lake district is generally very dog friendly. Dogs can go in most of the pubs, restaurants and even shops. We've taken ours on the Windermere boat trips, stopping off for a walk in the grounds of Wray Castle (NT). There's a few English heritage buildings where you can take dogs e.g. Brougham Castle - mine loved this one!

Days out with a dog that are not just 'walking through woods'
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.