Holidaying with Your Pet
Cornwall:
Newquay and Porth:
We’ve always wanted to take Bobo, our two-year old basset hound on our holidays to mainland Europe by car. But before we get him a passport through the veterinary and make sure his immunisations are all up to date, we decided to take him on a long 4 ½ hour car journey to Cornwall and see how he survives this. And how WE survive it as well. The most important thing in choosing a place to take your pet on a holiday is that the town or place you choose is a popular destination for pet owners. Cornwall is quite well-known for this.
The UK is very famous for having pet-friendly hotels and bed and breakfasts all over the country. We decided to spend Easter weekend 2017 in Newquay because we wanted the long weekend to be relaxing and different for Bobo and us- we can spend the glorious spring weather on England’s beautiful coastline and Bobo can run around the white sand beach and socialise with other dogs. Newquay is also popular among the younger and fun crowd- it is home to several restaurants, cafes and surf schools. We were lucky the weather turned out quite nice, although still a bit windy because it is still in the beginning of April- you should bring a jacket, jumper and perhaps a hat.
Our most favourite spot would be Fistral Beach. It is like a dog show there- many dogs running around with or without their leads. But make sure if your dog is not on a lead he/she behaves impeccably.
There are several accommodations both in Newquay and Porth that accept well-behaved pets. As for dining out, not all restaurants are pet friendly, but you can still find a few pubs between these two towns that can accommodate them. The most important thing in choosing a destination for a minibreak with your pet is that all of you: you, your partner and your pet, can all have a good and relaxing time.
Bodmin:
Just 10 miles outside Bodmin, a civil parish and major town in Cornwall, you can find The Jamaica Inn located near the middle of the Bodmin Moor and close to the hamlet of Bolventor. This was the base of Daphne du Maurier’s 1936 novel Jamaica Inn, which was subsequently made into a movie by Alfred Hitchcock in 1939. This inn was constructed in 1750 and is believed to take its name from pirates who smuggled illegal rum from Jamaica into the country and stored it at the inn, as well as using the inn as a stopping point before moving on to one of their 100 secret routes. Cornwall was a popular haven for smugglers during the 19th century. It is also believed that this inn is haunted! Today, it is still used as a hotel and pub, where they serve quite good English food. Most importantly, they are dog friendly. Enjoy and safe travels!
Lake District:
Cumbria
Another popular vacation place to take your pet would be Lake District in Cumbria, which is situated in northwest England and is known for its glacial ribbon lakes and rugged fell mountains. It is home to beautiful towns and villages such as Winderemere, Ambleside, Hawkeshead, Grasmere, Keswick, Near Sawery and Kendal. Many of the accommodations in the area are pet-friendly. Cumbria is well-known for unpredictable weather as the area receives most rain in England. However, we were quite lucky as we managed to get a full day of sunshine. Also, please note that most of the restaurants and pub stop serving food around 9-9.30 PM.
Beside the breathtaking lake and mountain scenery, you will find interesting sites in the beautiful surrounding villages, among them: Hill Top- the former house of Beatrix Potter in Near Sawery; Wray Castle in Hawkeshead; and Dove Cottage- the former home of famous English poet William Wordsworth.
Windermere
Windermere is the largest lake in the country and is part of the Lake District National Park. This natural ribbon lake was formed in a glacial trough following the retreat of ice at the beginning of the current interglacial period.
The main town, Bowness-in-Windermere is a famous tourist destination and is home to many restaurants, shops and galleries. It also serves several water-sport activities such as boating and swimming. With all the surrounding mountains and villages in the area, Lake District is also popular for biking and hiking.
Keswick
Keswick is a market town 22 miles north of Windermere and is well-known for its scenic landscape. It also provides several out-door opportunities such as group walks and mountain climbing. The town also has many restaurants and shops, as well as at two public parks with beautiful floral displays.
Right on the south of Keswick, you will find Derwent Water, one of the principal bodies of water in the Lake District which hosts several small islands within the lake. You will find many dogs playing and splashing about in the water, right by the marina. Rest assure, your dog will have a great time playing and socialising with other dogs!