Dog friendly holidays are certainly on the increase and the Lake District is naturally the perfect place to take a relaxing holiday with a dog. There are many small hotels and B&Bs which welcome dogs, but you can also camp, rent a mobile home, tour in a caravanette or rent a cottage in the Lake District . The area is known for its stunning natural beauty with mountains reflecting in the many lakes after which the area is named. Most of the countryside is given over to sheep farming, and there are plenty of way-marked paths though farmland. Be aware that your dog should always be kept on a lead of no more than 2 metres when there is livestock around. Between 1 March and 31 July it is compulsory under the Open Access law for dogs to remain on a lead in the open countryside, to protect ground nesting birds and young wildlife.
The Lake District is particularly well-prepared for walkers with dogs, providing marked paths, dog friendly stiles and gates around cattle grids. You are likely to see many sheep, so take a fixed lead with you. Each village has a pub where you can enjoy lunch or a drink at an outdoor bench with your dog at your side. Often water bowls are provided for thirsty dogs too.
Many of the Lakes provide walks which are a complete circuit around the lakes, such as at Buttermere, Wast Water and Ennerdale Water. Larger lakes such as Windermere offer walks along parts of the lake and steamers provide pleasant trips to enjoy the view and rest your feet awhile. Dogs are usually welcome on the larger pleasure boats. The Lake District also offers many hills to climb including well-known Helvellyn and Scafell Pike , the highest point. Not all these climbs are dog friendly walks as there is loose scree, narrow ledges, waterfalls to negotiate and some steep scrambles so read up on the route before setting off with your dog.
A holiday in the Lake District offers some delightful places to visit, such as Ambleside and Bowness-on-Windermere. These are very sailing-orientated towns and they are a delight to walk around admiring the gardens and the local artwork. If the weather is warm, make sure you and your four-legged companion find somewhere cool to rest regularly. It can be very overwhelming for dogs with thick coats in hot summer weather and hilly terrain. Some shops welcome walkers with dogs; others offer posts where your dog can be tethered while you make necessary purchases, but generally the Lake District is a very dog-friendly area and most locals have a dog themselves.
