If it weren’t for our dogs, most of us wouldn’t find good excuses to leave the house most days. But over three-quarters (77%) of owners and their pooches are bored with doing the same walk. That’s according to Rover.com, the online marketplace for pet care, which has delved into the nation’s dog-walking habits.
Looking over the data, the average dog walker does the same route every single day (54%), but most of us are always on the hunt for new trails (87%). That’s why Rover has pulled together the best dog-friendly walks across the UK. And, out of all 12 UK regions, 1 in 5 agree that the best area for dog walking is the South West.
Home to the South West Coast Path and Dartmoor National Park, the picturesque region was praised for its breathtaking views (50%), dog-friendly terrain (59%), and scenic features and atmosphere (41%). Meanwhile, others commended its streams where dogs can cool off (24%), secure off-lead areas (29%), and a wide choice of dog-friendly pubs (18%).
The South West Coast Path was named the best dog-friendly walk in the region too (with 44% of the vote). Stretching for 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset, around the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole in Dorset, there’s a lot of varied terrain to choose from. But owners should take care.
The Coast Path website even comes with tips like:
- Always keep your dog in sight
- Keep your dog away from cliff edges
- Clip on a short lead around sheep, cows and horses
- Ensure your dog has a name tag and is micro-chipped if they get lost.
- Avoid washed-up, white, waxy lumps of palm oil, which can be harmful if eaten by dogs
Alternatively, for another dog-friendly walk near Bristol, check out the South East’s New Forest in Hampshire. Or you may consider visiting Birmingham’s Sutton Park or Snowdonia too. According to Adem Fehmi, Rover’s Canine Behaviourist, what your dog needs most is varied terrain, space to explore safely, and minimal hazards.
Adem adds: “To get the most out of your dog walks and boost your dog’s physical and mental wellbeing, treat each walk like a mini workout – with a warm up, main activity, and a cool down… For your average, adult dog in good health, this might look like a brisk walk to warm up, a play game such as fetch as the main activity, and then perhaps some socialisation and a slower-paced walk for the cool down.”
The most dog-friendly walks in the UK (per region):
- South West – South West Coast Path
- North West – Derwentwater Walk
- Wales – Snowdonia National Park
- Yorkshire – Yorkshire Dales National Park
- South East – The New Forest National Park
- Scotland – Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
- London – Richmond Park
- East of England – Norfolk Coast Path
- North East – Northumberland National Park
- East Midlands – Sherwood Forest
- West Midlands – Birmingham’s Sutton Park
- Northern Ireland – Tollymore Forest Park