Ed Roberts
25 September 2017
With more and more holiday cottage owners welcoming dogs into their properties, it’s a great time to holiday with your four-legged pals. We appreciate that it’s hard leaving your canine pal at home when you go away as they are as much a part of the family as anybody else.
We want you and your dog to have the best possible holiday or break that you can. Read on to find the best:
DOG WALKS IN KENT
Kent is full of glorious walks, ranging from a sedate stroll on flat ground right the way through to the hilly Wealdway and the fantastic Romney Marsh with its amazing coastal views, stretching across to East Sussex. Beaches are great for winter walks, and are usually quite quiet at this time of year. On the whole, most of the best dog walks in Kent are away from livestock and traffic, and the scenery is great no matter what time of the year you visit.
Romney Marsh stretches for miles along the Kent and East Sussex coastline and its flat landscapes make fantastic walking and cycling country. The marsh is home to over 100 miles of amazing landscapes, which span woodlands, wetlands and beaches. If you’re looking for coastal views, the England Coast Path runs for 20 miles through the Marsh, passing villages such as Dungeness, Lydd-on-Sea and Dymchurch along the way.
Lots of sheep graze on the marsh throughout the year so take care with dogs near the livestock – leads are recommended. There is a Visitor Centre in New Romney if you’re looking for more handy tips.
Dungeness is a truly unique place to visit, found on the tip of the Romney Marsh peninsula. It’s home to one of the largest shingle landscapes in the world, and the UK’s only desert. More than 600 plant species can be found here as well as a myriad of wildlife. Dogs and their owners alike will love exploring the landscape and soaking up its unusual views. Make sure to visit Dungeness itself, decorated with boardwalks, lighthouses, and colourful cabins, a stark contrast to the bleak backdrop.
Reculver Country Park
Found on the northern Kent coast between Herne Bay and Margate, there’s much to see within Reculver Country Park’s 26 hectares. Follow the Saxon Shore Trail along the cliff tops for excellent coastal views - the Reculver Towers are also found here and are important local landmarks which dominate the skyline. With both paths and open spaces, dogs are welcome here both on and off the lead.
DOG-FRIENDLY BEACHES
With almost 207 miles of coastline, Kent isn’t short of a variety of beaches to explore, with several being pet-friendly all year round. Here are some of our favourites.
Whitstable West
Whitstable is a classic British seaside resort suitable for all, including dogs, thanks to the dog-friendly West Beach. Decorated with colourful beach huts and fishing boats, this shingle beach is a great place to admire some traditional seaside views, and your dog will enjoy the mile-long walk along the beach and around to neighbouring Seasalter.
Shakespeare Beach, near Dover
Famous for being the starting point for many swims across the English Channel, Shakespeare Beach is a shingle beach tucked away within a secluded bay. After the hundred steps down to the beach itself, there’s plenty of open space for your dog to run around in as well as rock pools exposed at low tide to explore.
Dumpton Gap, Broadstairs
Located just outside of the popular resort of Broadstairs, Dumpton Gap is a nice sandy beach featuring some of Kent’s signature white chalky cliffs. The beach can be followed right the way round the coast to Ramsgate, making it a great place for a longer dog walk too.
DOGGY DAYS OUT
There are plenty of wonderful attractions and places to visit across Kent, and fortunately many of these places also welcome dogs too. From railways to historic castles and abbeys, here’s some of our favourite doggy days out if you’re looking for where to head to.
One of the many vineyards that has sprouted up in Kent in recent years, you can explore on a self-guided tour with your dog on a lead. Stroll between the vines at your leisure before heading to the shop for free tastings and the chance to purchase some of the products made on-site.
Explore historic Canterbury by boat and hear tale after fascinating tale about the city’s history with Canterbury Historic River Tours. Bring your dog on board the boat and soak up the sights during this memorable 45-minute boat ride.
This national pinetum is home to one of the world’s finest collections of conifer trees, and is a great spot to enjoy a woodland walk or a picnic. Dogs on leads are welcome in the pinetum; bins and bags are provided for you to pick up any mess too. Sadly, dogs are not allowed inside the visitor centre or cafe, with the exception of guide dogs. The forest trails are the only areas where you are permitted to let your dog off the lead.
DOG-FRIENDLY PUBS
After all that exploring, you and your pet are sure to want to head somewhere nice for a bite to eat and something to drink! Try these fantastic places to eat across Kent where dogs are just as welcome as humans.
Even the name is dog-friendly at this lovely 500-year-old village pub, which serves home-cooked food and has a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The Sportsman has been a holder of a Michelin Star since 2008 but, fine dining aside, it’s also a great place to bring your dog and enjoy the coastal views its location benefits from. Fruit and vegetables are grown on-site meaning that you really are enjoying the freshest of produce in their meals.
This beautifully British pub in Goodnestone near Canterbury, welcomes those with both two legs and four. Rest awhile in front of its roaring fire after a long walk and on sunnier days, head out to the pub gardens to relax in the sun. Nearly 430 years old, it is steeped in history and is actually situated on the Goodnestone Park estate, one of Jane Austen's favourites.
If you’ve been inspired to have your next doggy holiday in this wonderful corner of England, check out our complete range of pet-friendly cottages across Kent and find your perfect place to stay.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.