With 2021 set to be the year of the staycation, there couldn’t be a better time to explore Wales with our dogs. It can be difficult to find places to visit and eat that allow dogs, let alone welcome them as much as their human companions! Fortunately, dog-friendly holiday provider Canine Cottages has crunched the TripAdvisor data to find the most dog-friendly places to go in Wales.
Based on the percentage of reviews on TripAdvisor suggesting a place was dog-friendly, they found the most dog-friendly beaches, places to visit, pubs and cafes across the nation, which can also be found in this handy interactive map.
Finding a beach where your hounds can roam freely isn’t always easy, due to different seasonal restrictions applying to various beaches. Luckily, TripAdvisor users have come to the rescue and suggested that the most dog-friendly beaches in Wales are:
- Aberporth Beach, Ceredigion
- Broad Haven Beach, Pembrokeshire
- Conwy Morfa Beach, Conwy
- Poppit Sands, Ceredigion
- Aberdaron Beach, Gwynedd
- Amroth Beach, Pembrokeshire
- Newton Bay Beach, Bridgend
- Freshwater East Beach, Pembrokeshire
- Saundersfoot Beach, Pembrokeshire
- Llanbedrog Beach, Gwynedd
A whopping 21% of the total reviews left for Aberporth commented on its dog-friendliness, making it the beach in Wales to head to with your dog this summer.
If a day at the beach isn’t for you, the other top dog-friendly places to visit for a day out are:
- Caerau Uchaf Gardens, Bala, Gwynedd
- Craig-y-nos Country Park, Craig-y-Nos, Powys
- Parc Y Bocs Farm Shop, Cafe and Restaurant, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire
- Barry Sidings, Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff
- Wisemans Bridge, Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire
- Parc Glynllifon, Llandwrog, Gwynedd
- Glansevern Hall Gardens, Welshpool, Powys
- Penllergare Valley Woods, Swansea
- Bodafon Farm Park, Llandudno, Conwy
- Hilton Court Gardens, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire
Offering a real mix of attractions, it’s clear to see reviewers agree there are great places to go in Wales with your dog, whatever your interests are.
Feeling peckish? Canine Cottages have rounded up the top dog-friendly places to eat across Wales too.
Below is the full top 10:
- The Moel Siabod Cafe, Betws-y-Coed
- The Doghouse Coffee Lounge, Wrexham
- Sophie Bach Tea & Coffee Room, Aberystwyth
- K9 Plus 1, Barry
- The Corner, Roath, Cardiff
- Temple Bar Inn, Amroth
- m’Eating Point , Llangollen
- Witches Brew Tea Rooms, Pwllheli
- Hen Blas Crafts & Cafe, Aberdaron
- Craig y Nos Castle Restaurant, Pen-Y-Cae, Powys
Canine Cottages have also released the Dog-Friendly Index, a handy tool where you’ll find these and even more dog-friendly places as recommended by TripAdvisor reviewers.
Covering the entirety of the UK, and featuring helpful filters for finding your perfect kind of day out or place to visit, the Dog-Friendly Index is a must-have tool for dog owners. Each place that has been featured has also been given a useful paw rating out of 5, with only places rated 3 paws or higher featuring in the tool.
Shannon Keary, Digital PR Manager at Canine Cottages, said: “With so many more people looking to explore what’s on their own doorstep with their dogs this summer, it’s fantastic to see the sheer number and diversity of places that welcome dogs across the country; hopefully this can only continue to grow.
We hope that our Dog-Friendly Index tool helps to highlight the top spots for dog owners to visit near them, as well as highlight some hidden gems they may not have been aware of.”
