Can anyone recommend any truly dog-friendly caravan sites? We have a touring caravan because we always take our dogs on holiday with us, and are looking for sites that have dog walking facilities on site, or immediately adjacent, that enable our dogs to run off-lead. We have three Border Collies who need some free-running time before we set off for a day's exploring. We would prefer electric hook-up and ideally an adult only site, although we do take most of our holidays out of school holiday time so it wouldn't be a major issue.
Susan Webb, by email
My earliest memories are from under canvas, camping with my parents and, at that time, our Border Collie cross Pedro. Over the years, we gathered more Border Collies until we were taking six away camping with us, so I know exactly what you are seeking.
As a camper, I have long been a member of the Camping and Caravanning Club whose site book gives detailed information such as the availability of dog walks on and near a site. There is also the website, and contact information is usually listed so that you could always ask before booking. There is also the Caravan Club which I would imagine provides similar information.
Alison Logan, vet
Most of The Caravan Club sites are dog friendly with dog exercise areas, but do still fill up with families quite a bit at weekends. Here are a few we have been to recently and can recommend (as can our collie and collie x)
ReplyDeletehttp://hollybushpark.com/index.html in Somerset. Lovely, friendly owners who have several 'pointy' dogs themselves. It isn't adult only, but it's not especially aimed at families (don't remember seeing any children there when we stayed and most 'vans had dogs) It is very easy access to walks in woodland and, although it says dogs must be exercised off site, when we were there we were allowed to use a field adjacent to the site to let the dogs run free in (though may be worth checking this is still the case before booking). The pitches aren't overly large thoug.
http://www.argoedfarmholidays.com/comments.html on a working farm in Gwynedd,Wales with views over Shell Island. Again, not adult only, but again no play areas etc for children. We were there outside of school holidays and no children on site. Beaches within easy walking and driving distances for off lead blasts and ideally located for exploring Snowdonia, Bedgelert, Betws-y-Coed and Barmouth.
http://www.daisy-bank.co.uk/index.html in Wales, near the Shropshire borders is adult only and dog friendly and a lovely site. It has a dog walk on site, but not a huge one for a belt about. We did find a playing field fairly local big enough for a game of frisbee/ball before heading off out somewhere and the owners have good local knowledge and could probably point you in the right direction.
I'm afraid our favourite one near Wadebridge in Cornwall has a limit of 2 dogs per 'van. I will see if I have details of other ones we've visited in the past.
Happy Camping :)
as motorhomers with dogs your plea is always a 'must' for us too. What area are you looking for? We motorhome all over and have a very long list of dog friendly sites.....Cambridgeshire -St Neots - riverside walk adjacent with fields too,North Yorks - Strid Wood - woods, river etc. Norfolk - Sandringham - woods adjacent.... I do understand what you mean though - more than a dog walk - real excercise space.Just too many 'gems' to list!
ReplyDeleteEvery now and then I walk my dogs around the headland at fabulous West Wittering beach, near Chichester in Sussex. There is a campsite within easy striking distance, it seems to be called Nunnington Farm. It isn't adult only unfortunately, and although dogs are on-lead on the actual site they say they do set aside an area for off-lead exercising, and you have access to that fabulous beach. Not stayed there, just seems a lovely location!
ReplyDeletePS: Me again ~
ReplyDeletealso look for campsites adjacent canals [Devizes for example] or rivers as there are almost always towpaths to meander along. I understand what you mean because although there are nearly always open spaces 'nearby', I'm guessing that like us you want good walks DIRECTLY from the site.