Sorry for the silence | Dog-friendly travel talks
It's been a hectic few months, but I've got a little gift for you!
I’ve been quiet for a while now, and for that I’m very sorry. Dog-Friendly Weekends finally came out on 6 May 2022 and it was a wildly busy time. Making the final adjustments to the text and layouts with my editors was exhausting, and I’ve been suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome since January so I’ve been trying to go light on the typing. Add to that a family emergency and some pretty intense weekends spent doing talks at DogFest and this newsletter has gotten away from me. But here’s where that changes.
My hands are still somewhat out of action, but I’m committing to reviving this newsletter once again to share with your our latest dog-friendly adventures and all the best tips I can impart for your holidays this summer. So, without further waffle, let’s get to it.
What’s on offer for dog-friendly holidays this summer?
The landscape for dog-friendly travel has changed lots in the last 18 months: after the pandemic hit and puppies landed in new homes all over the country during lockdown, the world of hospitality woke up to the trend. Being dog-friendly — not just dog tolerant — is now part of a sensible business model. I even wrote about this trend last year for industry magazine, The Caterer.
With new products and offers cropping up all the time, I thought I’d highlight some of the most exciting things to do and book for you and your dog this year. Here’s what’s new and exciting in the dog-friendly travel world:
Holiday cottages in Abergavenny
Seven new dog-friendly cottages in the Brecon Beacons town of Abergavenny have just opened their doors to humans and dogs. I love the look of these Caradog Cottages — bright, airy and with plenty of colourful furnishings like vintage rugs and printed cushions. There are a handful in the town itself while the others enjoy rural settings — perfect for getting out on the footpaths with the dog. The Brecon Beacons itself offers spectacular dog-friendly holidays, with the Brec & Mon canal path for flat walks, the tasting rooms at Sugar Loaf Vineyard, and dog-friendly stargazing trips with these guys.
A swish new hotel in Bournemouth
We had the pleasure of testing out the brand new Nici Bournemouth in Dorset this month, which is delightfully dog-friendly with ground-floor bedrooms that have direct access to the lawns outside. Sitting right on top of West Cliff, it’s just a 10-minute walk down the zigzag and along the boardwalk to the dog-friendly area of Bournemouth beach, around Durley Chine, and the hotel even lets dogs into the bar area and outdoor terrace in the restaurant for spectacular cocktails and hearty dinners. The hotel has a thoroughly youthful vibe, which is both a bonus and a pain: hen dos and stag parties will love this place, so if you’re bringing a dog along make it a weekday break.
Boating holidays from PetsPyjamas
Our lovely friends at PetsPyjamas have launched dog-friendly boating holidays for this summer, including self-skipper cruises around Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal. There are also adventures to be had in the Brecon Beacons, on the Thames around Walloingford in Oxfordshire, and even along the Canal du Midi in France. Save for that last one, each of those exciting places has a chapter in Dog-Friendly Weekends, too, so they’re a perfect pairing. PetsPyjamas has also launched tailor-made road trips, too. I love this company because they really think about the practical things, and when you book with them you get access to a VIP pet concierge and — more importantly — complimentary 24/7 vet line access for the duration of your trip.
FREE talks on dog-friendly travel
I’ve got two talks coming up in the next month and would love to see your faces there, in person or online!
Join a webinar @ 7pm 6th July hosted by my lovely publisher, Bradt Guides. They’ve given me a code to pass onto you guys for a FREE ticket to the talk, so hope to see you there. Book here and use GROSSTTC at checkout.
Fancy a trip to Oxford? I’m going to be speaking at the brilliant Blackwell’s, a dog-friendly directly opposite the mammoth Bodleian Library. Reserve your ticket here to get in for FREE!
Where’s next?
We’re going over old ground in July with a trip to Cornwall to visit the Eden Project with the dogs. We’ve booked two nights in the Cornwall Hotel & Spa — a new-to-me property — in Tregorrick, opting for a self-catering lodge. We’re just a 10-minute drive from Porthpean Beach, which allows dogs throughout summer before 10am and after 6pm, and the glorious Lost Gardens of Heligan are a short hop away, too.
Don’t forget, Dog-Friendly Weekends is OUT NOW in all good bookshops, on Amazon and Bookshop.org.