Tips for Taking Your Dog on a Lake District Cottage Holiday

If you are heading to the Lake District, don’t think you have to leave your best pal behind – a holiday in the Lake District is fantastic, but it will be even better with your favourite four legged friend by your side.
Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your time away:

Pet Friendly Lake District Cottages

It goes without saying that looking for a pet-friendly place to stay is the first thing to do. Look for a holiday cottage that is advertised as pet-friendly, with features like a safely enclosed garden for your pet to play.
You can see the full range of gorgeous pet friendly Lake District cottages here

Plan Your Walks

There are so many beautiful walks in the Lakes, but not all of them are dog friendly. It’s worth planning your days out in advance and making sure you are choosing walks that both you and your pet are able to do.
The area in and around Coniston has a great range of walks, both easy and challenging to suit you and your four-legged friend and many of them can be accessed from your cottage door, so no car needed. Coppermines guests are also entitled to free use of our 1 acre dog-exercise field in Coniston village by arrangement in advance.

Other walks, further afield include:

• Derwentwater Circuit in Keswick is a beautiful 10-mile walk that will lead you around Keswick lake. It’s mostly flat, and you can enjoy both woodland and the shoreline.
• Patterdale to Silver Point is another beautiful walk, starting in the village of Patterdale and walking through the woodland to the edge of Lake Ullswater.
• Our last recommendation is the Dalegarth to Stanley Force Ghyll walk. It’s a pretty easy walk with the odd footbridge and crossing to enjoy, and the woodland is breath-taking. It can get a bit slippery as you get nearer the waterfall though!

Bring Some Home Comforts

It’s worth bringing some familiar toys with you, so your dog will feel right at home in their new environment. Blankets, beds, and toys can help them to settle down more quickly and feel less anxious about staying somewhere new. It also helps to stick roughly to the same walk and feeding routines as you would do at home, where possible.

Make the Journey Comfortable

How long will it take you to get to your destination? Will your dog be happy travelling for that long? It’s worth doing a trial run if you’ve never tried a long journey with your dog in the car, to see how they get on. It’s also worth bringing some of those familiar comfort objects we spoke about earlier, to make your dog feel relaxed while travelling.
It’s also a good idea to plan the route in advance, with plenty of stops for you and your dog to stretch your legs. And don’t forget to bring the water bowl and a bottle of water for the journey!

Stock Up on Essential Supplies
It sounds obvious but making sure you have plenty of your dog’s preferred food for the trip is key, as you may not be able to get the same food whilst you’re away. Poo bags, medication, and treats are also helpful to have in abundant supply.