Six Reasons to Take a Dog Friendly Holiday in Yorkshire

So often when I see lists of the best places to take your dog on holiday in the UK,  Yorkshire is completely omitted from them and I always question why? Yorkshire is after all God’s Own Country and according to my spaniels it’s Dog’s Own Country too offering literally everything even the most discerning pooch could ever want to do on a staycation. It offers real value for money too as well as that infamous warm Yorkshire welcome to those on four paws as well as two feet. Another plus about going on a dog friendly staycation in Yorkshire is that the beaches are never crowded, and traffic jams? – well you’re more likely to get held up by a flock of sheep in the more touristy parts like the stunning and unmissable Yorkshire Dales! So read on to find out about what you and your furry friend can enjoy if you choose to visit Yorkshire.

1.Dog Friendly Beaches in Yorkshire Is a dog friendly holiday even dog friendly if it doesn’t include at least one trip to the beach for your pooch to dip his paws in the sea and romp along the sands? From hidden coves with waterfalls like Hayburn Wyke to huge sandy beaches like Bridlington South Bay and small hidden smugglers coves such as Boggle Hole, Yorkshire has it all! (why not take a read of our popular post Top 10 dog friendly beaches)

2. Dog Walks – Yorkshire offers some of the most diverse dog walks in the entire UK and that’s no suprise as it contains both the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales national parks as well as some of the Peak District and is blessed with 45 miles of coastline. So you and your four legged friend can enjoy coastal hikes, walks across moors and dales and even more strenuous adventures such as hiking Yorkshires 3 Peaks if that’s your thing.
If you and your dog prefer to take life at a more leisurely pace there’s plenty of interesting woodland walks or you could simply take a wander round one of the many gorgeous historic market towns. Some of our favourite Yorkshire dog walks include taking in a waterfall and there are plenty to visit, Janet’s Foss pictured below is a favourite and try not to miss out on doing the Ingleton Waterfall Trail.

3. Dog friendly Cafes and Pubs – It’s easy to find a cafe in Yorkshire that welcomes dogs with open paws and lots now offer not only biscuits and water but puppuccino, pupcakes and doggy ice cream. A couple of our favourites are Rusty Shears in Whitby and The Kibble Bakery in Skipton. If your pup is partial to a pint of dog beer and a pub lunch Yorkshire won’t disappoint either, The Ship Inn at Sewerby, near Bridlington, that we reviewed here for the Dog Friendly Pub Awards is super welcoming to dogs and of course the winning pub for Yorkshire, The Calder Vale Hotel in Wakefield is definitely worth a visit. Malton, the (human) foodie capital of Yorkshire has plenty of establishments that welcome our canine companions so you don’t need to miss out on sampling the most delicious cuisine our area has to offer just because you holiday with your dog.

4. Dog Friendly Attractions in Yorkshire – It has to be said that there’s  times I want to do something a bit different with my dogs than hiking and visiting beaches on holiday and here in Yorkshire there’s plenty of choice. You can take your dog on a steam train from Pickering to Whitby, visit beautiful gardens such as Helmsley Walled Gardens, take in a stately homes like Burton Agnes Hall, hire a boat on the river in York, visit Mother Shipton’s Cave near Harrogate or take in the famous gritstones at Brimham Rocks and so much more.

5. Dog friendly accommodation in Yorkshire. There’s a huge range of accommodation that welcomes our canine companions in Yorkshire from glamping and caravanning to quirky B&B’s, luxurious and more modest hotels and quaint county cottages with something to suit all budgets.

6. Market Towns and Pretty Villages There’s some really gorgeous villages in Yorkshire to have a mooch around with your faithful friend at your side. Thornton-le- Dale is so picturesque and home to the most photographed cottage in Yorkshire and more interestingly to your pooch is on the edge of Dalby Forest, Hutton-le-Hole with its free roaming sheep and dog friendly Ryedale Folk Museum museum are probably our favourites.
From Helmsley and Pickering in the North York Moors to Masham and Settle in the Yorkshire Dales the market towns of Yorkshire are exceptionally welcoming to dogs and if your pooch is a foodie like Maya they will pick up a good few free dog biscuits in cafes and shops whilst wandering around! Ripon is also a beautiful town close to the awesome Fountains Abbey and is home to a fabulous independent pet shop – The Pet Shop Ripon supawvised by our instagram friends Archie and Sparrow so don’t forget to pop in if you’re in the area as we have it on good authority they share their treats!

Hopefully we have now seen the end of the lockdowns here in the UK so I am going to be able to get on with writing many more articles showcasing dog friendly Yorkshire as well as exploring other parts of the UK but for now why not check out the Dog Friendly Travel Tab on our blog where you will find lots of informative, more in depth posts about Yorkshire with many more to follow this year – Covid willing!

Have a fabulous time if you decide to visit Yorkshire with your dog.

Love

Sal, Maya and Lucia xxx