Pet-friendly breaks in the UK

Pet-friendly breaks in the UK

We feed them, groom them and shower them with love and affection. We won't have a bad word said against them, even when they dribble on our best outfits. Let's face it - many of us might even treat our pets better than we do some of our relatives.

So it's no wonder that many of us won't let a little thing like a family holiday separate us from our best friends. And why should we, when there are now so many ways of taking a pet-friendly break here in the UK?

But where are the best places to travel with your pet? As a nation, the British are famously a nation of animal lovers, so the UK is well supplied with places that will welcome your pet with open arms.

Wide open spaces

The UK has a wealth of countryside and coastlines that are perfect for walking with your dog, and taking in the fresh air and scenery. Whether you prefer the moors and hills of Scotland, the picture-postcard perfect beaches of Cornwall, or choose to snuffle through the leaves on a New Forest trail - there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy a dog friendly break.

Once you’ve decided what part of the country to explore, it’s a good idea to do a fair bit of research before setting off. This guide to Cornwall's dog-friendly beaches will save you from the disappointment of discovering that the beach nearest your hotel will not accept pets in the summer months.

And if you're planning on taking your pet to the countryside, the National Trust has this leaflet packed full of advice on where your four-legged friends can roam free in the UK's great outdoors.

Where to stay?

There are a surprising number of UK hotels, guest houses and self-catering cottages willing to accept pets – and there are several online directories that can help your search.

But before you pack their suitcases with biscuits and squeaky toys, have a think about what type of accommodation would suit your dog's temperament. If you know your Chihuahua howls the place down every time you go out of sight, a hotel may not be the best place for you - unless you can face down the frosty stares at the breakfast buffet.

If you do decide to go for self-catered accommodation, make sure you're upfront with the owner. If they've specified they'll only accept one small, well-behaved dog and you turn up hanging onto a towering Great Dane with a penchant for chewing the furniture, it could put them off renting the place to other dog owners in the future.

Keeping them safe

Hopefully your holiday with your pet will be full of happy memories, but what should you do if they fall ill or have an accident while you're away?

Having adequate pet insurance in place before you travel can be a great help and give you extra piece of mind. Your pet insurance company may even keep a list of vets they recommend in the area you're visiting, so you can have the information to hand should the worst happen. With adequate protection in place and your holiday research done - all that’s left to do is enjoy the great outdoors with your four legged friend.
Issued by Sainsbury's Finance

Sainsbury's Finance is a trading name of Sainsbury's Bank plc. All information correct at time of publication, but may be subject to change. Any views or opinions expressed in this article are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any part of the Sainsbury's Group of companies.

Sainsbury's Finance is a financial services provider engaged in savings accounts, credit cards, and personal loans. It also supplies insurance services in car insurance, home insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and travel insurance as well as being a provider of travel money services.