Focus on Northumbria

Plus 2 Dogs has put together a number of travel guides to various parts of the UK designed to provide ideas and inspiration for dog friendly places to visit, walk and stay.

Here's our ideas for Northumbria, specifically the Coquetdale area in the north east of the county, around the pretty little town of Rothbury:

Northumbria is a great county to explore with your canine companion. Many of the beaches welcome dogs all year round; there are some great forests and woodlands to explore as well as the stunning scenery of the Northumberland National Park.

Coquetdale is an area set roughly in the middle of Northumbria, around the pretty market town of Rothbury which lies on the River Coquet.

Impressive Bamburgh Castle

Plus 2 Dogs visited the area in March and there was still some snow to be seen on the top of the impressive Cheviot Hills in the distance and a refreshing (some might say bracing!) wind blowing in off the North Sea.

Here's our top dog-friendly picks for the area if you're thinking of visiting this pretty part of Northumbria:


Dog friendly beaches in this area include:

Plus 2 Dogs explores Bamburgh Beach

• Alnmouth (our favourite)
• Bamburgh
• Beadnell
• Boulmer
• Druridge Bay
• Embleton Bay
• Howick

Recommended walks: Our Labradors Tobi & Meg particularly enjoyed exploring the Forestry Commission walks at:

• Ravensheugh (4.5 miles) Simonside Hills, near Rothbury
• Castle Hill (4.75 miles) Thrunton Wood, near Rothbury

To find details of these (and many other) Forestry Commission routes in the area click here

For other walks:

• Rothbury Walking has details of the area's annual walking festival held in June
• You'll find walking ideas and downloadable route maps at Visit Northumberland
• Northumberland National Park has lots of walking route ideas

Places to visit:

• Cragside, a National Trust property with extensive grounds and estate land, woodland, lakes, and self guided walks. Dogs welcome but need to be kept on lead.
  
• Druridge Bay Country Park, a country park with beach, sand dunes, lakes, woods and meadows, all dog friendly.

For cottages in Northumbria click here