The five best Twixmassy dog walks in the UK

Your Pets Daily Editor — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 11:20:12 +0000

After Christmas is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a good old-fashioned dog walk with the family to walk off some of the Christmas dinners, just remember to wrap up warm and bring some delicious hot chocolate.

There are so many amazing dog walks available right on our doorstep, and below, Shannon Keary, Digital PR Manager at Canine Cottages, reveals the five best dog walks in the UK to enjoy with your pooch this Christmas.

1. Cheddar Gorge cliff walk, Somerset

England's largest gorge, Cheddar Gorge is one of the UK's finest natural landscapes – and our best dog walking location in the country. Cheddar Gorge Cliff walk is the perfect place to walk your four-legged friend. This four-mile cliff trail allows you to take in all the stunning sights of the gorge, as well as encounter some of the area's unique wildlife. Your dog is sure to love it too!

2. Llyn Padarn Circular, Llanberis, Wales

Llyn Padarn is a glacially formed lake set against some of Snowdonia's most spectacular scenery and is a fantastic place to walk your pooch, even in wintertime. The five-mile circular trail is relatively easy and suitable for all the family, allowing you to walk through the Country park, Coed Dinorwig (an ancient woodland of rare oak trees), Vivian Quarry and the lake itself. You're sure to spot lots of birds and rare flora too – what's not to love?

3. Staithes and Port Mulgrave, North Yorkshire

Staithes is a quaint fishing village near Whitby, and this walk that takes you around Cleveland Way National Trail and across the cliffs to Port Mulgrave harbour is one of the best in the UK. With stunning views of the sea, quiet lanes, paths, and fields for your pooch and the opportunity to amble through the village too, this is a great walk for a full day out. Just make sure to check the forecast before venturing towards the sea!

4. Hastings Country Park, East Sussex

Hastings Country park covers 600 acres of nature trails, wooded valleys, cliffs, and glens, and is a great place for your dog to explore all day long. The views from the clifftop are second to none, reaching across the English Channel – you can even see France on a clear winter day! It's a great wildlife spotting route too, with Peregrines and Yellowhammers roaming the park. There's no shortage of things to explore at Hastings Country Park.

5. Castle Fraser, Aberdeenshire

There are plenty of trails to explore in the grounds of this fairy-tale castle in Aberdeenshire. There are marked trails, but feel free to go off the path and explore the area for yourself. The one-and-a-half-mile Alton Brae Trail is perfect for dogs of all shapes and sizes, allowing you to take in the stunning views of the castle and beyond.

Commenting, Shannon says: "With Christmas coming up and people spending some extra time with friends and family over Twixmas, now is the perfect time to enjoy the wintery scenes and walk the UK has to offer, whether it's exploring the British woodlands, or ambling along the sea on a beach! We only ask that you and your pooch wrap up warm!"

"Our list of the best dog walks in the UK will hopefully help inspire you to take a trip to one of these amazing areas with your dog on a wintery day, or if you're local to the area to go out and explore the beauty that's right on your doorstep!"

To find out more top dog walks in the UK, please visit: https://www.caninecottages.co.uk/guides/uks-best-dog-walks

The most dog-friendly beaches in the UK revealed

Your Pets Daily Editor — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 07:52:30 +0000

Best Beach Guide for Dogs 2021 launched

Vets Now, the country’s leading pet emergency service, has unveiled the top 50 dog-friendly beaches to ensure our nation of pet lovers stay safe on days out at the beach.

There’s beaches from all over the UK’s coastline on the coveted list – from as far north as Waters of Philorth Beach at Fraserburgh in Scotland down to Seagrove beach, Isle of Wight.

With the pandemic forcing more of us to staycation this year, the UK’s sandy getaways have become top destinations to escape to on day trips or short staycation breaks and it’s little surprise that when the sun shines there’s no better place to be with your dog than at the beach.

Vets Now experts have examined the UK’s beaches, creating a 32-page comprehensive digital guide on the best – and safest – beaches for dogs to ensure the country’s pet owners and their beloved pets have a fun and safe experience this summer at the seaside. The emergency vets took into consideration beaches where water quality is deemed high, dogs are welcomed all year round, parking and access is good and a daytime vet is based nearby.

When dog owners venture off for a day at the seaside though, you should be cautious of dangers like fish hooks, jellyfish, low tides to name just a few.

The past few months have seen a phenomenal rise in two things: people getting new pets and people booking summer ‘staycations’ rather than travelling abroad. So if you are going on holiday with your pet, emergency providers Vets Now are reminding pet owners they are just a tap away with Video Vets Now. You can book your appointment and get chatting to a qualified vet from your campsite, caravan or conservatory.

Experienced emergency vet, Dr Laura Playforth, professional standards director at Vets Now and one of the authors of the Best Beach Guide, said: “Unfortunately, pet emergencies don’t take summer holidays and each summer we witness a significant rise in emergency cases that are related to beaches and the sea.

“We’ve only chosen beaches where: water quality is deemed high, dogs are welcome all year round, parking and access is good and a daytime vet is based nearby. All those featured are within an hour’s drive of a Vets Now pet emergency clinic or hospital so, if you’re at the beach in the evening or weekend and suffer a pet emergency, you know you’re never far from expert help. Remember we also have Video Vets Now where you can speak to an experienced vet from anywhere.

“The team were really impressed with the beaches shortlisted in the guide – we were especially looking for things like pet friendliness and facilities on offer, and we wanted to give our advice on ideal beach destinations for the UK’s dog lovers.”

But even on the safest beaches, it’s always important to stay pet aware to ensure you and your dog have a fun and safe experience in the sun, surf and sand. The team have also revealed 13 Top Tips for keeping man’s best friend safe on whatever sand adventure you choose.

Laura continued: “Don’t be fooled by cool coastal breezes, temperatures on beaches often soar and you can be caught off guard, even at the end of summer. Be sure to provide a shaded area for your dog and give them plenty of fresh water.

“It can take just 15 minutes for a dog to die from a heat-related illness so never leave them in a sun trap or in a car for a nap – even with the windows down, it does little to affect the heat. Sadly this is an all-too common mistake which we see time and time again.

“If your dog is not used to swimming then the sea is not the place to start. Be careful of strong tides and rolling waves and make sure your dog doesn’t venture too far out. Waves and currents can quickly exhaust dogs. Also stop them lapping up sea water — the salt, bacteria and parasites in the water can make them sick. And keep a close eye on your dog if there’s likely to be jellyfish. Often lurking in shallow water or washed up on the beach, these troublesome creatures can cause a nasty sting and we’ve had to treat many an affected dog.”

Vets Now clinics and pet emergency hospitals are open through the night, seven-days-a-week, and day and night on weekends and bank holidays, to treat any pet emergencies that may occur.

All of Vets Now’s out-of-hours clinics and 24/7 hospitals have a vet and vet nurse on site at all times.

Vets Now has also launched an online video consultation service where experienced vets are available to discuss any worries or concerns pet owners might have. If a pet needs to be treated at any vet clinic, pet owners are refunded the online consultation fee.

Vets Now 50 Best & Safest Beaches is available to download at www.vets-now.com/dog-friendly-beaches/

Your Pets Daily - Dog walk

The five best Twixmassy dog walks in the UK

Category

Tags

The most dog-friendly beaches in the UK revealed

Category

Tags