Your dog is one of the family so it makes sense that if you go out for the day you’ll want to take your dog with you. But where can you go with your dog? Here are a few of our favourite dogs days out.
Dog friendly beaches
Take your dog to the beach. You’ll need the car for this one though as being inland you’ll have to drive to East Sussex, West Sussex or Kent to be near the coast. The soft sand will help to avoid strain your dog’s joints when they are chasing a ball or frisbee. There’s something refreshing and nostalgic about a day at the seaside, especially on a sunny day. Who else loves the feeling of paddling in a gentle sea on a calm day. If you have a dog that loves jumping into water (spaniels or labradors anyone?) they’ll be in the sea at the first opportunity. Many beaches do have restrictions at certain times of the year. You can find more details about whether a beach is dog friendly here Dog friendly beaches Just take care with the tide times and always be aware of where your dog is.
Local Parks
Many of us are probably within walking distance of a local park. Generally in the UK, even if you live in a big city, there will be an open space nearby. In London there are some beautiful parks; Hyde Park, Battersea Park and Victoria Park are some examples. In Reigate there is the historic Reigate Priory Park, you can also visit Master Park in Oxted, Queens Park in Caterham or the fantastic Crystal Palace park – especially if you are a dinosaur fan! If you Google ‘dog friendly park near me’ you may even discover a new place to visit. Make a day of it by taking along a picnic and don’t forget water for your dogs too.
Woodland Walks
Is there anything more relaxing than a trample through the woods. This is a great walk at any time of the year. In the spring you can look out for spring flowers such as daffodils and bluebells. In the summer enjoy a shady walk and some shelter from the sun. Autumn is a wonderful time of year for a crunch through the fallen leaves walk with a patchwork of autumn leaves to admire. In the winter enjoy the openness of the woods with the lack of leaves and the beauty of a frosted ground. Visit the Woodland Trust website to find woods near you or a little further afield. If you live in Surrey you may also like to find out more about Banstead Woods and the amazing Narnia Trail.
Country Walks
Embrace nature and head to the countryside. The south east of England enjoys miles and miles of open countryside to explore. You can find some great ideas on the Visit Britain website including Seaford Head, Bewl Water and Leith Hill. Remember to keep to the public footpaths and bridle ways, leaving gates as you find them, and always follow the countryside code. You can find out full details of the countryside code here. Whether we are visitors to the countryside or land owners we all have a responsibility and a part to play. There are a multitude of outside spaces to explore in the South of England including the Surrey Hills, North Downs Way and South Downs National Park. You also have places such as the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex and Epsom Downs and Box Hill in Surrey, which are popular places to walk.
National Trust properties
Although you’ll find that dogs are not allowed in to National Trust buildings and houses, they are welcome at many locations – sometimes off the lead and in selected places on a short lead. Dogs are welcome at Knole but they must be on a lead because of the deer. You are welcome to take your four legged friends to Chartwell, however they will need to be on a lead in the gardens. If you walk out in to the woodland area you can let them off the lead but you will still need to be in control of them – as anywhere. When visiting the National Trust website there is a great feature to search dog friendly properties, you can search here dog friendly National Trust venues . National Trust offer a membership, so you’ll be contributing towards the upkeep of their properties as well as being able to visit as often as you wish.
Paws in the Park
If you really want to tailor your day out to completely focus on your dog, why not book for Paws in the Park. The dates for 2022 are:
South Of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex – 14th and 15th May 2022.
The Kent Showground, Detling, Kent – 17th and 18th September 2022.
Paws in the Park is a great day out! You can try your paw at different activities, including agility, dog sports, search and rescue and swimming. There are competitions and loads of stalls selling canine equipment and other merchandise. You can find full details and how to book your tickets on the Paws in the Park website.
Top Tips for a good day out with your dogs
- Check the website of the place you are visiting to make sure that dogs are allowed.
- Ensure your dog has an identity tag with your name, address and very importantly an up to date telephone number.
- Take water for your dog to drink during the day, you can get some great dog bottles online here’s an example.
- Make sure you have a supply of dog bags with you.
- If you are travelling by car, you will need to make sure they have a suitable seat belt attachment or be securely in a crate to ensure they are safe while travelling.
- Check the tide times if you are going to a beach.
- Don’t go out with your dog if the weather is extremely hot. This can cause harm by scorching their paw pads on a hot path or pavement and dogs also find it hard to cool down so can get dangerously hot in a short space of time.
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Have fun exploring our beautiful country with your four legged family members!
COUNTRY RAMBLES 