The 15 best places in the UK for a dogcation 🐾

From adorable seaside towns to dramatic Highland scenery, ancient forests to medieval castles, the UK is bursting with brilliant destinations for pet parents to explore with their dogs. Going away with your pup is a great excuse to spend quality time together and strengthen your bond – and your dog gets a whole new world of sights, smells and squirrels to investigate 🐿️

Ideal for summer, we’ve put together this handy guide to help you plan your dogcation. Wherever you’re based, there should be a fab dog-friendly break within reach 🐕

Plus check out our top tips on packing and pet insurance for travel below.

Jump to:

• What to pack for a dogcation
• Protecting your pet on your dogcation with pet insurance
• Sources and methodology

The 15 best UK destinations for a dogcation 🗺️

England 🌹

1. Lymington, Hampshire 🌲

Taking the crown among our English picks is Lymington, a coastal town in the New Forest. Lymington stands out for having the most dog-friendly hikes of all the locations in our original study – 169 trails to explore, including nature reserves and scenic coastal routes.

Jump to our original study methodology

If you’re both hungry after your hike, head to one of the 19 dog-friendly restaurants in town, or one of 57 dog-friendly pubs for a well-earned post-walk pint (or soft drink). And for peace of mind, there are 35 vet practices within 20 miles – just double-check opening times before you rely on one.

2. Bournemouth, Dorset 🏖️

Bournemouth has over 80 dog-friendly hiking routes, from beach walks to countryside trails, including the dramatic headland of Hengistbury Head.

Note that during the summer season (1 May to 30 September), dogs are prohibited on central Blue Flag beaches but allowed year-round in specific zones: Alum Chine (western side), Durley Chine, Fisherman’s Walk to Southbourne, and Hengistbury Head.

Over a fifth of the town’s hotels, pubs and bars welcome four-legged friends, though fewer than 10% of restaurants do – so it’s worth planning your dinner options ahead of time. 

There are 58 vet clinics within reach if your pup needs one.

3. Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear 🏰

This coastal town in northeast England offers 25 dog-friendly hikes and a warm welcome for four-legged visitors, with half of its hotels happy to take dogs. 

Tynemouth also boasts an impressive 71 vets nearby, should your pup get into any unexpected bumps or scrapes.

4. Brighton, East Sussex 🎉

Brighton offers 30 dog-friendly hikes, from leisurely strolls along the beach to bigger adventures on the South Downs Way. Over half the city’s spas welcome pets too, so there’s scope for a bit of pampering alongside the walkies.

Note that if you want a beach walk during summer (1 May to 30 September), dogs are restricted to designated zones: Kemp Town Beach (east of the pier to the Marina), West Hove (near Hove Lagoon), and central Hove (opposite Adelaide Crescent). It’s also worth mentioning that Brighton has a shingle beach, in case your dog has sensitive paws.

With 51 vets nearby, you can be confident of support if your dog needs medical attention – just double-check opening hours.

5. Southwold, Suffolk 🍦

This scenic coastal town has 45 dog-friendly hotels to choose from, plus a quarter of restaurants and three-quarters of bars and pubs happy to welcome your pup for post-adventure meals and treats.

Note that you cannot walk your dog on the main Southwold beaches (between the northern end of the beach huts and Gun Hill Café) from 1 April to 30 September. But dogs are welcome year-round at Southwold Denes (just north of the main beach) and on the beach south of Gun Hill toward Walberswick.

There are 15 vets in the area and 16 dog-friendly cottages for those after a self-catering base.

6. Whitby, North Yorkshire 🏴‍☠️

This charming seaside town boasts the highest number of dog-friendly cottages of any location in our original study – 87 in total – with over half of Whitby’s hotels also welcoming dogs. Plenty of options, in other words, for finding a comfortable base for exploring the abbey ruins and cobbled streets.

Scotland ⛳

7. St Andrews, Fife ⛳

Best known for golf, St Andrews is also a genuinely lovely dog-friendly break. West Sands beach – the one that famously featured in Chariots of Fire – stretches for nearly two miles of uninterrupted sand backed by dunes, with free parking running the length of it.

Note that the stretch of beach closest to town and the golf course is dog-free in the summer season (1 May to 30 September), but the rest of the beach – which is plentiful – is still open to dogs.

East Sands, on the town side, sits on the Fife Coastal Path and is known for spotting seals, dolphins and even the odd whale offshore.

For something calmer, the Lade Braes is a peaceful riverside path through woodland and meadows, and Cambo Gardens near Kingsbarns combines a woodland walk with an award-winning dog-friendly beach and café. In town, dog-friendly cafés like Mitchell’s Deli make a good pit stop for a puppuccino.

8. Oban, Argyll and Bute ⛵

Known as the ‘Gateway to the Isles’ and Scotland’s self-proclaimed seafood capital, Oban is a proper dog-walking hub. Stroll the Victorian esplanade, climb to McCaig’s Tower for sweeping views over the bay, or head to Ganavan Sands for a beach that’s dog-friendly all year round.

Dogs travel free on CalMac ferries if you’re on foot, making Oban a brilliant base for island-hopping day trips. The Isle of Kerrera is just five minutes away and makes for a great half-day dog walk, taking in the ruins of Gylen Castle.

9. Pitlochry, Perthshire ⛰️

Right in the heart of ‘Big Tree Country’, Pitlochry is a walking holiday destination through and through. The circular route around Loch Faskally is flat, scenic and entirely dog-friendly, taking in views of the loch’s famous salmon ladder.

For something more atmospheric, Black Spout Woods leads to a dramatic waterfall, though it’s a rougher track that needs a reasonable level of fitness.

The town itself has a long track record of welcoming dogs – several local hotels have been doing so for decades – and it’s a great base for exploring the wider Highland Perthshire countryside.

10. North Berwick, East Lothian 🏰

This traditional East Lothian seaside town has dogs allowed on its beaches all year round. Both West Bay and East Bay welcome four-legged visitors, with the Scottish Seabird Centre and views of Bass Rock nearby. Just outside town, Yellowcraig combines forest, dunes and a long stretch of golden sand, with views out to the island that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.

For a bigger day out, the climb up North Berwick Law rewards you with coastal views, or tackle the longer walk out to the cliff-top ruins of Tantallon Castle.

Wales 🏉

11. Tenby, Pembrokeshire 🏰

Often described as the prettiest seaside town in Wales, Tenby combines medieval town walls, a working harbour and one of the best dog-friendly beaches in Pembrokeshire. South Beach stretches for a mile and a half, backed by dunes, with views out to Caldey Island – dogs are welcome on the majority of it year-round, with only a small section restricted in peak summer.

Afterwards, head into the old town for a choice of dog-friendly pubs, including the Buccaneer and the Hope & Anchor down by the harbour, or join the Pembrokeshire Coast Path from South Beach for longer coastal walks.

12. St Davids, Pembrokeshire ⛪

The UK’s smallest city is also one of its most scenic dog-friendly bases. Whitesands Bay, just outside the city, is dog-friendly from October to May and backs onto the dramatic St Davids Head coastal walk, taking in Neolithic burial chambers and views out to Ramsey Island.

If you’re visiting during the summer restriction on Whitesands, Caerfai Bay is a dog-friendly cove year-round, and Porthselau is a quieter alternative nearby. St Davids itself has a good spread of dog-friendly cafés and pubs to refuel in afterwards.

13. Llandudno, Conwy 🎡

This grand Victorian resort is anchored by the Great Orme, a limestone headland with trails for every fitness level and views that stretch across to Snowdonia. Dogs are welcome on the Great Orme Tramway and on what’s billed as the longest passenger cable car in Britain, both of which whisk you up to the summit without the climb.

West Shore beach is dog-friendly all year round and is the quieter of Llandudno’s two beaches, while the mile-long promenade linking the town’s two headlands makes for an easy, scenic stroll whatever the season. Keep an eye out for the local seal colony around the Little Orme.

Northern Ireland ☘️

14. Portrush, Causeway Coast 🏄

Portrush is home to three Blue Flag beaches – West Strand, East Strand and Whiterocks – all of which welcome dogs outside the busiest summer weeks, with plenty of room to roam even in high season. It’s also perfectly placed for a dog-friendly day trip to the Giant’s Causeway, where dogs on leads are welcome both in the visitor centre and along the coastal paths.

Back in town, the Harbour Bar overlooking Portrush harbour is a well-loved dog-friendly spot for a drink, and the Causeway Coast Way footpath links Portrush onward to Dunluce Castle and beyond for longer walks.

15. Newcastle, Co. Down ⛰️

Where the Mourne Mountains sweep down to the sea, Newcastle makes a striking base for a dogcation. The town’s promenade is a lovely spot for a seaside stroll, while nearby Tollymore Forest Park – nearly 630 hectares of mountainside woodland – offers a calmer walk along the Shimna River beneath the trees.

It’s also a handy base for exploring the wider Mourne Coastal Route, with plenty of dog-friendly pubs and cottages in the surrounding villages for a longer stay.

What to pack for a dogcation 🧳

When packing for a holiday with your dog:

• Remember to bring essentials like a lead, harness and collar with an ID tag (needed by law).
• Don’t forget bowls for food and water, along with enough food and treats to last the trip, plus a bit extra – just in case.
• Pack medications if your dog needs them, and waste bags for clean-up are a must.
• Bring their bed or blanket and some favourite toys to help make your accommodation feel like home.
• A brush, shampoo and towels are handy for grooming post-walks, while a basic first-aid kit can help you be prepped for minor mishaps.

Here’s everything you need to know about taking your dog on holiday.

Protecting your pet on your dogcation with pet insurance 🐾

Hopefully you and your pup will have a wonderful trip without any unexpected injuries or illness. But if something does happen, having pet insurance in place can give you peace of mind that you’re covered for unexpected vet costs, wherever you happen to be in the UK.

For emergencies or out-of-hours care, make sure to have a list of vet clinics and hospitals in the local area that offer the specific services you need. Vaccination records and microchip information are also worth keeping close by.

Sources and methodology

Six of our English picks are drawn from our original research into 40 popular UK holiday destinations, compiled in June 2024. These were ranked by the proportion of dog-friendly hotels, cottages, restaurants, pubs, spas and hikes – plus the number of vets within a 20-mile radius. 

We’ve since added nine new destinations across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, chosen for their dog-friendly reputation, beaches, walking trails and all-round tail-wagging appeal 🐕

For our original destinations, we compiled a seedlist of 40 towns across the UK and ranked them using a series of metrics, scored on a scale of 1 to 10, to determine the best locations for a dogcation. An overall score was calculated by taking a weighted average of those rankings.

Here’s where we sourced our data:

• Number of dog friendly hotels – Booking.com
• Number of dog friendly hikes – Walkiees.co.uk
• Number of dog friendly restaurants – TripAdvisor
• Number of dog friendly pubs – Whatpub.com
• Number of dog friendly spas – Spabreaks.com
• Number of vets that treat dogs – Thomson Local
• Number of dog friendly cottages – Dogfriendly.co.uk

Please note, this index is a weighted ranking. We gave more weighting to the number of vets in a 20-mile radius and the number of hikes, as these metrics are particularly important for dog wellbeing.

Highest weighting in the index: number of vets; number of dog-friendly hikes – included at equal ranking with vets, as it ties into pet health and wellbeing via the importance of dog walks and getting outside.

Equal weighting in the index: number of hotels; number of restaurants; number of dog-friendly cottages; number of pubs and bars.

Lowest weighting in the index: number of spas.

A note on the nine new destinations: the original 40-town seedlist and dataset only covered locations in England, so we don’t hold the same quantitative data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Rather than force these into a ranking they weren’t part of, we’ve grouped all 15 destinations by nation instead, and picked the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish entries based on editorial research into their beaches, walking trails, dog-friendly amenities and general reputation among dog owners.