DOG FRIENDLY COTTAGE HOLIDAYS IN YORKSHIRE
If you enjoy walking and taking your canine friend(s) on holiday with you, destinations with wide open spaces and breathtaking scenery will appeal - long walks with lots of fresh air and exercise for the family and pet(s) alike.
Without a doubt, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors are perfect locations for holidaying with family pets. The area is a walker’s paradise, with miles of footpaths and bridleways to be explored around the villages, river valleys, hills and on moorland paths. Whether you are looking for short rambles or more challenging walks, there is something for everyone.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park offers 680 sq. miles of unspoilt countryside, rising from the Vale of York and extending westwards to the Pennine hilltops. It is easily accessible from Manchester, Leeds, Kendal and Darlington, making is a great area for a week’s holiday or a short break. The North York Moors National Park boasts and area of 554 sq miles and is twice as big as the Isle of Man. There are 1408 miles of rights-of-way paths criss-crossing the moors, which are made up of the largest expanse of heather moorland in England.
There are numerous walks to enjoy with dogs, all varying in distance. On the Moors, Osmotherley and the Cleveland Way (6 miles), Dalby Forest and the Bridestones (4.5 miles) or Hovingham and the Howardian Hills (6 miles). In the Dales, try Grewelthorpe and Hackfell in the Nidderdale area (6 miles), Hawes and Sedbusk (5 miles), or Grassington to Hebden (6 miles). So much to see; so much to experience and enjoy!
Fancy some sea air? The Moors National Park forms the backdrop to a rugged coastline with rocky coves, towering cliffs and sandy beaches. The coastal paths, which stretch for 30 miles along Yorkshire’s Heritage Coast offer some fabulous walking, with the opportunity to drop down to one of the resorts or villages. In spring and summer the paths and surroundings are rich in wild flowers and wildlife. Walk on the coastal paths and you will be windswept; walk on the beaches and you will be waveswept – what could be more invigorating? There are several coastal walks which would be ideal for dog-walkers including Robin Hood’s Bay (6.5 miles) with good views of the North sea; Flamborough Head (3 miles) stunning scenery, lighthouses, great freedom for dogs; Flamborough Head to North Landing (4 miles) exhilarating walk to a small cove at North Landing.
DOGS WELCOME COTTAGES IN YORKSHIRE
We all need a welcoming holiday cottage to return to after walking the moors or dales with dogs in Yorkshire. It is so nice to be able to make a pot of tea and drink it in the comfort of your own lounge.
It’s great to return to the privacy of your own place after a day of activity and fresh air. Towel-down the pooch, take off your boots, light the wood-burner, put the kettle on, then put your feet up and relax! There are properties with well-equipped kitchens which allow you to cook as often or little as you please. Children and dogs bring with them a fair amount of clutter, so ample storage-space is a boon for those anoraks, boots, rucksacks and dog-beds. So why not enjoy the freedom of a self-catering holiday in one of the many lovely dog-friendly properties on offer in the Yorkshire Dales or the North York Moors.
