Northumberland: The Best Dog Friendly Walks in Northumberland
Monday 20th June, 2022 by hs-admin
Staycations are on the rise, and so is the demand for dog–friendly accommodation!
In a recent study of UK dog owners, it was found that 85 per cent of owners would prefer to book a staycation in the UK where they could bring their four-legged friends, rather than a holiday abroad without them. A huge 37.5 per cent of surveyed owners said they won’t travel at all without their pets!
If you’re looking for a canine-friendly location, Northumberland is one of those places that has a bit of everything to offer, from sandy beaches to scenic woodlands covering every inch.
The perfect getaway is at your fingertips, with many of our properties happy to accommodate your furry friends, in locations absolutely perfect for walks.
Kielder Forest and Water
Kielder forest is absolutely HUGE, with more than 250 square miles of forest and water to explore. Home to many outdoor art features too, it’s not only a treat for your dog, but for you too!
You’ll find many different routes, but our favourites are the duke and duchess trails, starting at Kielder Castle.
The Duchess trail is around 3km and is where the second Duchess of Northumberland loved to take her pony over the old pack horse bridge over 200 years ago, to reach the quieter, more picturesque areas of the estate.
The Duke trail is a little longer at 4.5km and is a lovely stroll through the castle grounds and nearby waterside, with plenty of wildlife to be seen from the many observation points. Both of these trails are perfect on a hot day as they are shaded by the woodland!
If you fancy a longer walk, we’d recommend the circular lakeside walk. It’s 18 miles, but the views are worth it.
Park at any of the three visitor centres for £5 per day.
Druridge Bay Country Park
Just south of the coastal town of Amble, you’ll find Druridge Bay Country Park. With a picturesque lake, wildlife aplenty, a children’s play area, a cafe and a short walk to Druridge Bay Beach, it’s not only family friendly, but your furry friend will be in for a treat too!
Make yourself a picnic and park up at the visitor centre to find an array of tables areas around the park, with an on-site cafe and toilets if required.
The park is centred around a lake with surrounding woods which has been restored from an old opencast coal mine. The walk around the lake is flat and perfect for pushchairs and wheelchairs, totalling around 1.5 miles circular.
A small walk behind the car park will lead you to Druridge Bay Beach, an absolutely stunning sandy beach taking you the whole way along the coast, from Cresswell to Amble.
Sycamore Gap
The Sycamore Gap tree is said to be one of the most photographed trees in Britain. The five-mile circular route goes right along the iconic Hadrian’s Wall, with views of the Roman Military Way.
Starting off at Housesteads Visitor Centre, you’ll take the main path up to Housesteads Fort and join the Hadrian’s Wall path at the very top of the hill, before following the clear route to the famous sycamore tree that legend links with Robin Hood.
The route is quite hilly, with some stiles and steps to climb, but not too strenuous for regular dog walkers.
Bamburgh Beach
Overlooked by the historic Bamburgh Castle, the beautiful dog-friendly beach of Bamburgh is the perfect spot for your pooch to get the sand between their toes.
Unlike a lot of nearby beaches, Bamburgh allows dogs all year round. With miles of soft sand to run on and the fresh North Sea to splash in, it’s truly a winner.
You can even take a trip up to the castle, with 3,000 years of history waiting for you to explore. Dogs on leads are welcome within the castle grounds, Armstrong and Aviation Museum, Tack Room Café and Victorian Stables.
Simonside Hills
If you and your dog are more of the rambling type, don’t skip past Simonside! The 11.4-km loop National Park near Rothbury is classed as being ‘moderately challenging’ but is completely dog-friendly and the panoramic views of the Cheviots from the top are worth every step.
We would recommend keeping dogs on a leash if you can, as there’s an abundance of wildlife often spotted, from squirrels, red grouse and even wild goats occasionally, but well-behaved dogs are free to roam the hills.
You’ll want to set aside around four hours for the walk, and longer if you want to stop for a picnic! Parking is completely free and easy to locate, with signs posted along the entire road leading up to it.
If you and your pooch are eager for a Northumbrian walk, head over to our website and find our dog-friendly holiday homes.