Dog Day Out - Ickworth, Suffolk

The National Trust look after the Ickworth Estate in beautiful Suffolk and dogs are very welcome to explore with their owners (except in the Italianate Garden!).

You can take a stroll amongst the 1800 acres of parkland or enjoy a relaxing woodland walk - perfect for a dog friendly walk.

Ickworth is described as a 'pleasure ground for dogs' and even has it's own webpage where all dogs who visit the estate can have their photos emailed in for inclusion on the Dogs of Ickworth/WAG page if they wish!

Visit Dogs of Ickworth to find out more and see pics of dogs enjoying their Ickworth walks:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth/things-to-see-and-do/activities/page-1/

Dog Friendly Hotels In Cumbria

Broadoaks Country House Hotel,  Troutbeck, Windermere, Cumbria

www.broadoakscountryhouse.co.uk


For a trip to the Lakes, you will find Broadoaks Country House Hotel is the perfect place to stay with your dogs. Not only do the owners of this delightful boutique hotel welcome dogs, they adore them!


With Lake Windermere not far away, the 19th century house stands impressively looking out across 7 acres of land and stunning views of the Lake District.

There's an excellent choice of walks straight from the hotel offering an invigorating day's dog walking.

 On your return, simply collapse by the fire in the music room and enjoy a sumptuous tea, or wait until the evening when the chef will serve up one of his culinary delights.

Amazingly they don't forget about your canine friends when it comes to meals - there's a  nutritious Four Paws Menu approved by the hotel's resident dog, Molly!

Number of Dogs - Currently 7, but will increase to 10!!

Find out more about dog friendly holidays in the Lake District via the Plus 2 Dogs website and the Dog Friendly Lake District mini-website

Dog Day Out - Trentham Gardens

Trentham Estate is home to the highly regarded Trentham Gardens consisting of formal gardens, lakes, parkland and woodland.

There's acres of woodland and parkland to explore and there are also well signposted walk routes to follow so you can discover as much or as little as you like on your stroll with your canine companions.

Head to the Trentham website where you can find out more and also watch a ten minute video walk around the estate as a bit of a taster!

Trentham is located just off junction 15 of the M6. Great day out for all, including the dogs!

Find out more on the Trentham website

 

National Pet Month

Did you know that it is National Pet Month betwen 7 April and 7 May this year?

If you'd like to find out more and discover all this:
* competitions
* how to get involved
* latest news
* events

Then head to the National Pet Month website:

http://www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk/press/

Dog Friendly Bluebell Walks

Have you spotted your first bluebells of the year yet?  Despite the less-than-spring-like weather we've had over the last few days it seems as though spring has sprung!

Plus 2 Dogs not only spotted bluebells in three separate woodlands over the weekend but we also heard our first cuckoo of the year.... now we just need some spring-like weather to go with them!

Discover a dog friendly bluebell wood in your area via the Visit Woods website - just enter your town or postcode and away you go!

http://visitwoods.org.uk/en/visit-woods/things-to-do/nature/Pages/bluebell-walks.aspx

Dog Friendly Pembrokeshire - Rock Cottage

Rock Cottage, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire

Rock Cottage offers dog friendly quality accommodation in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, where a wealth of countryside and gorgeous beaches await you and your canine companions.


Well placed in centre of the county, Rock Cottage provides a charming, secluded and comfortable base for exploring, from St Davids in the north to Tenby in the south. 

Sleeping 6/8 people in 3 bedrooms and willing to take more than 2 dogs, the cottage is open all year round for long or short breaks. There's a well equipped kitchen, central heating and log burner, an enclosed back garden backing organic farmland and a reduction for smaller parties out of season.

Number of Dogs - 2 or more by arrangement

Find out more on the dog friendly holidays website Plus 2 Dogs

Day Out - For The Love Of Dogs event

For The Love Of Dogs
April 29th 2012
Newark Showground
Nottinghamshire

Concerned about what the future might hold for dogs and their owners? Will new leash laws affect where you can walk and exercise your dog off of the lead in your home area? Worried about indiscriminate dog breeding?

Show your support for canines and their wellbeing by going along to this event in Newark between 10.30am and 4pm. The event is hosted by The Freedom of Spirit Trust (Charity No 1121598) and guest speakers include the charity's Patron Dame Ellen MacArthur DBE.

Find out more via the charity's website:
http://www.fostbc.org.uk/news2.php?id=128

Dog day Out - Kelmarsh

This weekend (April 21st & 22nd) sees the Game & Country Fair being held at Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire.

Country and game fairs such as this one provide a great day out for all the family and dogs are most welcome to enjoy the day with you!

Plus 2 Dogs recently attended a game fair in Derbyshire and it seemed as though everybody who attended had their dog with them which meant a great day of very worthwhile socialisng for our 'youngster' (i.e 1 year old dog Moss).

Events vary but there's usually lots of different events happening throughout the day - main arena displays, dog shows, musical entertainment, have a go stalls for everything from country crafts to clay pigeon shooting - as well as plenty of stalls where you can purchase dog beds, toys, leads, treats etc, plus crafts, country clothing and local foods.

Kind out more about the Kelmarsh event this weekend as well as other forthcoming fairs this summer on the Countryman Fairs website:

http://www.countrymanfairs.co.uk/kelmarsh-game-and-country-fair/whats-on

Dog Evening Out In Essex

ESSEX COOL EVENING MEETUP

Sunday, May 27th, 2012

Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm

PUGS, BOSTONS, FRENCH AND ENGLISH BULLDOGS AND CROSS BREEDS OF THE ABOVE ALL WELCOME.

Location: South Weald Country Park, Brentwood, Essex Visitor Centre Entrance.

Park number:01277 261343             

 

The park landscape at Weald has been sculptured over time, from deer park to formal gardens and lakes. The park was once a deer park used for hunting and fallow deer have been reintroduced. They are no longer able to roam free, but can be visited in their enclosure by the Visitor Centre. They look their best in the autumn as the males display their fine antlers as they enter the rut. Today the woods and park are enjoyed by all.

Bluebells carpet the floor of the woodlands in spring, and the rhododendrons add fiery splendour in May. With the birds around the lake bright in their spring plumage, it is a great time of year to visit the bird hide on the large lake. The rangers also host a variety of activities throughout the year.

 

http://bulldoggroupuk.vpweb.co.uk/Dog-Friendly-Walks-UK.html

Dog Friendly Devon Cottages - Lea Hill

Lea Hill, Membury, Devon

Lea Hill has six well equipped self-catering cottages and apartments all with delightful views. Each is a comfortable home from home thoughtfully converted from the historic thatched farmhouse or its ancient barns.

Lea Hill Cottages occupy a sheltered, secluded position deep in pretty Devon countryside yet just four miles from the small market town of Axminster.

There are eight acres of grounds and gardens with stunning views and delightful local walks to explore.

 Dogs are welcome

Find out more about these and other dog friendly cottages in Devon on the Plus 2 Dogs website

All About Dogs Event This Weekend

Another dog friendly day out idea from Plus 2 Dogs - this time the event is not just dog friendly but it is all about dogs and for dogs as well!

It's the All About Dogs event taking place in Newbury this weekend -April 14 and April 15 2012.

There's lots going on, find out more on their website:


http://www.allaboutdogsshow.co.uk/newbury-dog-show-attractions.htm

Dog Friendly Day Out - Dog Activity Trail, Coatham

DOG ACTIVITY TRAIL IN TEES VALLEY WOODLAND

 Back in 2008 the Forestry Commission linked up with the Kennel Club to unveil the first ever dog actvity trail in any of its UK woodlands in the 500 acre Coatham Wood, near Long Newton, Teesside.

With pipes, tunnels, posts, beams, steps and hurdles located along a one mile trail, it has been designed by agility experts to offer dogs of all sizes a stimulating challenge that’s sure to get tails wagging.



Coatham Wood was acquired by the Forestry Commission in 1999 and since then 500,000 trees have been planted in a project with the Tees Forest to create a vibrant community beauty spot on ex-agricultural land.


About one third of people who visit woods are dog walkers. Three years ago the Forestry Commission sealed an agreement with the Kennel Club to make its 202,000 hectares (500,000 acres) of woodland in England as canine-friendly as possible for dog walkers.

Find out more about Coatham on the Forestry Commission website
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/ourwoods.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandStocktononTeesNoForestCoathamWoodCoathamWoodCarParkCoathamWoodDogActivityTrail

Dogs In The Garden

Gardening and choosing plants can be tricky when you have pets in mind. Often gardens need to be more on the 'robust' side when dogs, especially puppies are involved! Plants can easily get trampled by dogs playing in the garden, chasing footballs and generally having an 'explore.'

Something else to bear in mind -again, especially with puppies - is where plants have berries at any time of the year and if so whether these are poisonous.  The leaves and other parts of some plants can also pose danger for pets - but where do you start to find out what is safe and what isn't for your garden and your dogs?

The Dogs In the Garden website provides lots of useful info on plants and pet safety for UK gardens...

Plus 2 Dogs thinks their website is well worth a look before you head off to the garden centre!

Dog Days Out - Devon Gardens

Planning some spring and summer days out and want them to be dog friendly?

How about a visit to a dog friendly Devon garden?   The Britain's Finest website lists 12 open-to-the-public gardens as being dog friendly including:

*Arlington Court
*Bicton Park Botanical Gardens
*Castle Drogo

 Find out more on the Britain's Finest website

Dog Friendly Walks In The Lake District

Jenkin's Crag, Ambleside

 

One of the Plus 2 Dogs labradors Moss recently enjoyed a trip to the glorious lakeland fells and he chose the Jenkin's Crag (sometimes spelt Jenkyn's Crag) walk as one of his favourites of the trip.

You can access Jenkin's Crag by walking through the Low Fold Car Park on Lake Road in Ambleside (almost opposite Hayes Garden World) towards the bottom of the fells, then turn right along the lane and you'll soon see a sign for Jenkin's Crag, pointng up a single track lane climbing steeply up the fellside.

The walk goes through woodlands and tracks to a viewpoint over Ambleside and Lake Windermere - highly recommended!

 

Discover more dog friendly walks, places to visit, eat and stay in the Lakes on the Plus 2 Dogs Squidoo pages

 

www.squidoo.com/dog-friendly-lake-district

 

Dog Days Out

Whisby Nature Park, Thorpe on the Hill, West of Lincoln, Lincolnshire

This nature park, located just off the A46, west of Lincoln, is very dog friendly. There are over 6 miles of walks and trails to explore.

The site even has a designated 'dog toilet' and there are plenty of dog bins located around the park too.

 Visit the park website for more details at:
http://withamvalleypark.co.uk/your-visit/witham-valley-country-park/whisby-nature-park-natural-world-centre/walking-at-whisby-nature-park-natural-world-centre