Dog-friendly UK: beaches, attractions and dog walks

Live in the UK with a canine companion, or want to explore Britain as a pet sitter, by house sitting in the UK? Stay right where you are! In our guide to dog-friendly UK, we explore beaches, attractions and dog walks - all perfect for a pet-friendly day out near you.

Visit a dog-friendly English Heritage property

If you love history, then why not explore an English Heritage property with your furry friend? Many welcome dogs - just double check restrictions before visiting. Find a few below to give you an idea on the sorts of places you could visit with your pooch:

• Tintagel Castle. Visit this medieval fort in North Cornwall if you live nearby, and soak up the dramatic views. Keep your dog on a lead for their own safety, as there are multiple steps and cliff edges.
• Kenilworth Castle. Explore this ruined castle that was built after the conquest of 1066, and keep your dog on a lead throughout the site and gardens.
• Belsay Hall. If you live near Morpeth, take your dog for an alternative walk around the grounds of Belsay Hall and marvel at the 19th century building.
• Whitby Abbey. Crowing the historic fishing port of Whitby are the ruins of Whitby Abbey - built in the 7th century! Explore the site with your dog on a lead.

Visit a dog-friendly National Trust site

Many of the UK’s National Trust properties welcome dogs - especially in their grounds and gardens. Below, we’ll list a few of the most popular National Trust sites across the UK - but be sure to check out your nearby property to avoid travelling far with your furry friend.

• Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden, England. National Trust property and UNESCO World Heritage Site, this spot in North Yorkshire is well worth a visit if you live nearby. Keep your dog on a lead and explore the abbey ruins, Georgian water garden and deer park.
• Corfe Castle, England. In Dorset are the stunning ruins of Corfe Castle - in the village that’s aptly also named Corfe Castle! Explore its 1000 years of history with your dog on a lead.
• Culzean Castle and Country Park, Scotland. Part of the National Trust for Scotland, this castle in Ayrshire is set on a dramatic clifftop, and its 600 acres of grounds welcome dogs (and their humans) for a scenic walk.
• Crathes Castle, Scotland. This 16-century tower house in Aberdeenshire is complete with a stunning estate where dogs can roam for one of the most scenic walks in the area.
• Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland. This nature reserve in Country Antrim is looked after by the National Trust and is popular with local dog walkers and tourists alike. Stop by and marvel at some 40,000 basalt columns jutting out of the sea that were caused by an ancient volcanic eruption.
• Castle Ward, Northern Ireland. If you live near County Down, don’t miss out on the chance to wander the estate of Castle Ward (and stop by the dog-friendly tea room) that surrounds the 18th-century National Trust property.
• Penrhyn Castle & Garden, Wales. If you live in Wales and you’re exploring the north, give Penrhyn Castle a visit - it’s a 19th-century neo-Norman castle, and dogs can explore the expanse of grounds and woodland.
• Dinefwr, Wales. If you live in South Wales, head to Dinefwr - an estate with over 800 acres of land, and castle ruins where dogs are welcome on a lead.

Dog walk in a National Park or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The UK’s towns and cities are never far from a stunning place to walk - from rolling hills to meadows and ancient forests, there is always somewhere ideal for a dog walk. Get a taste of the popular places to walk dogs in the UK below, but find somewhere close to where you live or where you’re house sitting to avoid a long car journey with your canine companion.

• Lake District National Park, England. In the north of England is the Lake District National Park - a much-loved site by hikers, dog walkers and tourists for its dramatic yet tranquil natural beauty. Note - the Peak District is a separate National Park, but so worth visiting with your canine companion if you live nearby.
• South Downs National Park, England. Stretching from the country’s historic capital of Winchester all the way down to Eastbourne is the South Downs National Park - a park of rolling hills and woodland, perfect for dog walking.
• North York Moors National Park, England. This national park in Yorkshire, England has something for every kind of dog walker - choose from heather moorland, a 26-mile coastline and ancient woodlands.
• Cairngorms National Park, Scotland. As the UK’s largest national park, Cairngorns is so worth the visit if you live nearby or you’re house sitting in Scotland - find lochs, mountains, river valleys and diverse wildlife.
• Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, Scotland. How do lochside walks and waterfalls sound? Check out Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and look out for its 21 munroes.
• Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland. This Area of Outstanding Natural beauty is complete with trails, forest parks and dog-friendly cafes - perfect for a full day of hiking with your adventurous canine companion.
• Sperrin Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Northern Ireland. This unspoilt landscape in western Northern Ireland is a feast for the eyes - and dogs are welcome. Visit to explore a land both naturally breathtaking, and steeped in local folklore.
• Snowdonia National Park, Wales. The northern valleys of Wales are a treat for the eyes and it’s easy to see why Snowdonia National Park is popular with hikers, dog walkers and mountain bikers. Just be sure to put your dog on a lead around livestock.
• Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales. In West Wales sits a dramatic coastline of sea cliffs and a coastal path that stretches some 186 miles. Walk patches of the path with your dog and enjoy the National Park’s 50 dog-friendly beaches, following any seasonal restrictions.

Head to your nearby dog-friendly beach

We’re lucky enough in the UK to be surrounded by a dramatic coastline of white cliffs and golden sands - and many of the beaches welcome dogs. If you live near a beach, find out your local restrictions and keep your dog on a lead where rules apply. Below, we’ll list a few of the most popular dog-friendly beaches in the UK that are some of the most pet-friendly places to visit.

Dog-friendly beaches in the UK:

• Holkham Beach, Norfolk, England. Norfolk is famous for its beaches, so if you’re thinking about house sitting as a pet sitter in the UK, don’t miss out on Holkham - where dogs are welcome on the stunning stretch of sand all year round.
• Perranporth Beach, Cornwall, England. In England’s south west is Perranporth Beach - with 3 miles of golden sands popular with dog walkers all year round. Plus, there’s a dog-friendly beach pub (called The Watering Hole) on the beach itself.
• Benone Strand, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Explore one of the longest beaches in Northern Ireland with your pooch (who needs to be on a lead in certain areas), and enjoy views of Mussenden Temple.
• Murlough Beach, County Down, Northern Ireland. Explore the dunes of Murlough Beach with your pooch with the dramatic backdrop of the Mourne Mountains.
• Rhossili Bay, Gower, Wales. This spot is a treat for local dog owners as canines are welcome all year round on the three-mile sandy beach, complete with a view of Worm’s Head.
• Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Let your furry friend run free on this stunning beach in West Wales, where dogs are welcome to roam all year round, with no restrictions.
• Dornoch Beach, Scotland. Dogs have year-round access on the stretch of golden sands at Dornoch Beach, which are backed by sand dunes perfect for zoomies.
• Yellowcraig Beach, Scotland. Just a 50-minute drive along the coast from Edinburgh is Yellowcraig Beach - a sandy expanse where dogs are welcome throughout the year.

Explore more pet-friendly things to do in the UK

Want more where that came from? Explore our guide to dog-friendly England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales where you’ll find an in-depth look at beaches (and their dog restrictions), pet-friendly attractions, festivals and more.

Dog-friendly UK: statistics and fun facts

Want to know just how dog-friendly the UK is - and just how obsessed we are with canines on this little island? Get the scoop with our facts on dogs (and their humans) across Britain below.

• 31% of UK households own a dog.
• There are an estimated 12.64 million dogs in the UK.
• 82.9% of the UK’s pet dogs live in England, 2.1% in Northern Ireland, 9.1% in Scotland, and 5.8% in Wales.
• 97% of landlords in Belfast accept pets.
• 85% of landlords in Cardiff accept pets.
• 71% of landlords in London accept pets.
• 58% of landlords in Edinburgh accept pets.
• 87% of National Trust properties are dog-friendly to some degree.
• 874 UK beaches are dog-friendly all year round.

Sources: Dog’s Trust, Dog’s Trust, , Hillary’s, , The National Trust, The Beach Guide

Tips for pet parents

• Head to the coast. If you’re a new pet parent, you might not have explored your local dog-friendly beaches just yet. But as many of the UK’s beaches welcome dogs, get to the coast and let your pooch run free - where restrictions allow.
• Explore nearby using public transport. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on buses, trains, trams and the London underground, so see the nearby sites without having to get in the car.
• Get your holiday pet care sorted. So you’re all set to explore the dog-friendly attractions near you - but what about when it’s time for a holiday? Well what if we told you that there’s no need to leave your dog in a kennel, or limit how far you can travel? With TrustedHousesitters, pet parents can connect with verified, in-home pet sitters to give their furry friends the ultimate staycation, while owners enjoy time away. Click below to find out how it works.

Tips for pet sitters

Fancy breathing in the fresh air of the Scottish highlands, the northern valleys of Wales or getting amongst the bustling streets of London - all with a new furry friend to show you around? Sounds like it’s time to start your adventure house sitting in the UK. Follow our tips below to make the most of your time here, and to get started.

• Check out a cosy pub. The UK is brimming with dog-friendly pubs that are complete with open log fires, exposed beams and walls that could tell a million stories, so be sure to check out your local while you’re house sitting in the UK.
• Hike with your furry friend. You’re never far from stunning scenery to explore in the UK - whether it’s a stretch of golden sands or rolling hills, so take your new canine companion along and get into nature.
• Ask pet parents first. Pet parents know best when it comes to how their furry pal enjoys spending their time, so check first before planning an adventurous hike, or a walk through a bustling city centre.
• Explore the UK through house sitting. So, how does staying in the city next door, or getting to know Britain for the first time - without spending a penny on accommodation, and with the company of new furry friends sound? Click below to find out how to get your house sitting adventure started.

More dog-friendly travel guides

Looking for more detail on things to do with dogs near you? Below explore more of our UK-based travel guides, where you’ll find dog walks, restaurants, attractions, festivals and more.

• Dog-friendly England: attractions, walks, festivals and more
• Dog-friendly Scotland: attractions, beaches & places to eat
• Dog-friendly Wales: beaches, attractions and dog walks
• Dog-friendly Northern Ireland: beaches, walks & attractions
• Dog-friendly London: things to do in London with a dog
• Dog-friendly Edinburgh: things to do in Edinburgh with a dog
• Dog-friendly Cardiff: things to do in Cardiff with a dog
• Dog-friendly Belfast: things to do in Belfast with a dog
• Dog-friendly Cornwall: beaches, attractions and activities