Tips for planning dog friendly holidays in Wales

A holiday in Wales can be a fun experience for the whole family, including the four-legged members! If you want to bring your dog with you, it is good to know where you can go without getting caught out in places with pet restrictions. We have a put together a list of tips so you can enjoy dog friendly holidays in Wales.

Beaches

Colwyn Bay found in Llandudno in Swansea is a popular sandy beach that is dog-friendly all year round. It has many facilities nearby and coastal paths that are perfect for taking long walks with your pooch. Broadhaven Beach in Haverfordwest is another great beach that dogs are free to explore. It has a lovely long stretch of sand where your dog will be more than happy to run around in the open space away from the crowds. Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula is dog friendly all year round and is a popular beach that is surprisingly quiet due to its fairly remote location.

Other beaches that welcome dogs are Penmon Beach in Anglesey, the beaches around Swansea Bay and Monkstone Beach in Tenby to name just a few! There are some great campsites nearby that welcome dogs. Just make sure your dog is kept within your campsite so as not to disturb other campers. This may mean keeping him on a lead if necessary and bringing some toys to keep him occupied! Also, make sure there are enough shaded areas for your pet to relax in as it’s important to keep him cool. Don’t forget to bring a bowl so your pet has plenty of water.

Pubs

There are a multitude of pubs all over Wales where you can take your dog, so whichever part of the country you find yourself in you will be able to stop for a pint or a bite to eat without leaving your pooch behind! In the village of Llangennith on the Gower Peninsula, there’s an excellent pub called the King’s Head that not only serves fantastic food and drink but is completely dog friendly! The Y Talbot pub in Tregaron near Aberystwyth is also a wonderful place where your dog can join you and while you enjoy some high end cuisine in a cosy atmosphere.

Other pubs without dog restrictions include the Joiner’s Arms and the Worm’s Head in Gower, the Wheatsheaf Inn in Conwy and Blue Bell Inn in Flintshire.

Historic Sites

In Caerphilly, you can visit Caerphilly Castle, a wonderful site steeped in history and full of interesting things to do and see. Dogs on leads are very welcome. It is a good idea to visit the castle in the autumn or spring when there are fewer crowds, especially if your dog is not used to or is a little timid of too many people. Similarly, dogs are welcome at Caernarfon Castle and Pembroke Castle so long as they are on leads. Be considerate to other visitors and the sites by bringing poop bags in case your dog leaves a mess.

Located just 4 miles west of the Cardiff city centre is St Fagan’s National History Museum. This is an open-air museum and one of Wales’ most popular heritage attractions situated in the stunning ground of St Fagan’s Castle. There are plenty of fun activities to do here and your dog is welcome if kept on a lead. Visitors with dogs are even offered a pooper scooper on entry and there are water bowls at the museum’s restaurant.

Walks

The Brecon Beacons is a picturesque mountain range in South Wales and is the perfect place to find a number of walks suitable for you and your dog. The Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre is just 5 miles from Brecon and only 15 miles from the town of Merthyr Tydfil. It is one of the most popular attraction in this stunning national park where you can grab a bite to eat and let your dog run around outside. From here, you can begin many different walking routes such as the Libanus Ramble walk. At around 6 miles on mostly flat, firm terrain, this is ideal for dogs who want to do a bit of exploring in the wide open space. Bear in mind that there are lots of free roaming sheep on this route, so keep your dog on a lead if you think he’ll be tempted into chasing them! Other popular walks in Wales include the scenic cliff-top coastal walk from Tresaith to Llangrannog in Ceredigion and the 3.5 mile walk from Deer Park to Marloes in Pembrokeshire with some exceptional sea views. You may even see a spectacular sunset if you time it right!

Wales is a great destination for a holiday. With plenty of places where your dog is welcome, you’ll never have to leave him behind. Camping or caravanning sites are dotted all over Wales so it doesn’t matter which part of this wonderful country you visit, you will find a dog friendly place to stay.