Pet Friendly Campervan Hire
The best places to take a dog in a campervan in the UK are the ones with long walks straight from a campsite and a beach or lake nearby: the Lake District, the Northumberland coast, the Peak District, Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), the Scottish Highlands, Cornwall and the Norfolk coast. Each has plenty of dog-friendly walking. Each also has seasonal rules, from beach bans to leads around sheep. This guide covers seven destinations, campsite types and the countryside rules.
For hiring a van that accepts dogs, see our guide to dog-friendly motorhome hire. The UK campervan hire guide and the UK hub cover the wider picture.
Seven UK destinations to visit with a dog
The Lake District
The Lake District suits dogs that like water and fells. For an easy first walk, the National Trust's Tarn Hows loop near Coniston is marked as dog-friendly, with dogs on a short lead throughout because livestock graze around the tarn all year. Aira Force by Ullswater is another National Trust site that welcomes dogs, on a lead at all times. Sheep are everywhere, and the National Park asks owners to use a lead near livestock, particularly in lambing season. Campsites cluster around Windermere, Coniston, Ullswater and Keswick; book early for school holidays.
The Northumberland coast
Long, quiet beaches and castles make Northumberland one of the best coasts for dogs. Visit Northumberland says a large proportion of its more than 30 miles of beaches is dog-friendly, with seasonal restrictions on some beaches, so check before you go. Bamburgh, Embleton Bay and Low Newton are commonly listed as dog-friendly, but the summer picture differs by beach. Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Blyth have partial seasonal dog exclusions between 1 May and 30 September, and the National Trust asks for dogs on a short lead at and near the Long Nanny tern colony, between Beadnell and High Newton, in the breeding season. Check the signs at each beach access. Coastal campsites and farm pitches between Alnmouth and Bamburgh are the usual base.
The Peak District
The Peak District has no coast, but it has reservoirs, moorland edges and wooded cloughs. The National Trust's Derwent Valley and Ladybower walk, about 4.6 miles from Fairholmes car park, is dog-friendly with dogs on a lead at all times, and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome on the Mam Tor circular. The National Park asks for a short lead (maximum 2 metres) on all open access land from 1 March to 31 July and whenever farm animals are near. Some sensitive breeding areas close to dogs altogether, with signs to show where. A small campsite on the edge of the park beats parking a van on narrow lanes near busy spots.
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)
The central Beacons offer mountain walking with water stops. The National Trust lists Henrhyd Falls and Nant Llech (3.5 miles) for a dog-friendly walk with a swim in Graig Llech Woods, and the Pen y Fan and Corn Du circular (4 miles) is strenuous but on well-made paths. The National Park Authority has asked dog walkers to use short leads from 1 March to 31 July, and the National Trust says a short lead is essential around sheep. There is no beach in the central Beacons; for the Welsh coast, start with our Wales campervan guide.
The Scottish Highlands
The Highlands reward dogs that come back when called. In the Cairngorms, the Linn of Dee on the National Trust for Scotland's Mar Lodge Estate has waymarked trails along the River Dee and into Glen Lui, and Uath Lochans near Kincraig runs through pine woodland around a string of small lochs. The Cairngorms National Park Authority asks owners to keep dogs on a lead during the breeding season, from April to mid-August, because the park holds around 80 per cent of the UK's capercaillie. For a longer trip, our Scotland hub, Scotland campervan hire guide and North Coast 500 guide cover routes.
Cornwall
Cornwall has some of the best coast path walking in the UK and a clear seasonal system for beaches. Cornwall Council restricts dogs on most beaches covered by its order between 10am and 6pm from 1 July to 31 August. Blue Flag and Seaside Award beaches such as Porthmeor, Sennen and Polzeath run the restriction from 15 May to 30 September, and three protected wildlife areas (Carnsew Pool, Copperhouse Pool and the Hayle Estuary) are closed to dogs all year. Early mornings and evenings work in summer; spring and autumn are easier still. Our Cornwall campervan guide and the Cornwall and Devon coast road trip help with planning, and neighbouring Devon has many beaches with its own rules.
The Norfolk coast
Norfolk is flat, open and easy on the legs, with dunes, marshes and wide beaches. North Norfolk District Council applies dog restrictions on parts of beaches such as Cromer and Sheringham between 1 May and 30 September, with maps showing the exact stretches, and at Holkham the estate asks for dogs on leads in signed areas of the beach and dunes during the nesting season from April, with dogs under close control elsewhere. See our Norfolk campervan guide for sites and routes.
Beach bans: what to expect
Many councils restrict dogs on some beaches in summer, often from around 1 May to 30 September, although the dates, hours and stretches of sand vary by council and sometimes by beach. Some beaches ban dogs completely, some require leads, and some only restrict the busiest hours. Assistance dogs are normally exempt. Councils publish their orders online and post signs at beach entrances. Check the council page for your beach before you travel, and follow the signs.
Dog-friendly campsites: what to look for
- Farm and small field sites. Quiet, with walking from the pitch; livestock nearby may mean leads on site.
- Club and larger sites. Often have dog walking areas and rules on leads; some limit dogs per pitch.
- Coastal sites. Handy for early beach walks; check nearby beach restrictions.
- Holiday parks. Some accept dogs only in certain areas or exclude them in peak weeks, so ask first. See our holiday parks guide.
Dog fees at campsites vary. Some charge a few pounds per dog per night, and some include dogs in the pitch price. Check the booking page for fees and dog limits. The packing guide covers the kit list.
Rules to know with a dog in the countryside
- Livestock. The Countryside Code says to keep your dog on a lead or in sight, and on open access land and at the coast you must put your dog on a lead around livestock. A farmer may shoot a dog that is attacking or chasing livestock.
- Ground-nesting birds in England and Wales. From 1 March to 31 July dogs must be on a lead on open access land, even with no livestock in sight.
- Cattle. If cattle approach you, the National Trust advises letting your dog off the lead and calling it back when it is safe.
- Scotland. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code asks you to keep your dog in sight and under control, and to use a lead if in doubt. In the breeding season, use a short lead or keep close control on moorland, in forests and on loch shores.
- Dog waste. Bag it and bin it, or take it home when there are no bins. This matters most in fields with livestock.
- In the van. Highway Code rule 57 says to make sure dogs are suitably restrained when you drive, so they cannot distract you or be injured if you stop quickly. The RSPCA warns that parking in the shade or leaving the windows open does not make a car safe: when it is 22°C outside, a car could reach 47°C within an hour.
Road trips that work well with dogs
Coastal routes give you a beach or a headland every hour or two, which suits a dog that needs to stop. The Cornwall and Devon coast route, the North Coast 500 and Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way all have plenty of stopping points. Plan shorter driving days than you would without a dog.
Hiring a van that accepts dogs
Pet rules and fees are set by each owner or hire business, so check them on the listing before booking. Our guide to dog-friendly motorhome hire explains what to look for. You can also search all vans; the guides on hire costs, insurance and what is included help with budgeting. Taking a dog to France or elsewhere in Europe is covered in the hiring guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to go with a dog in a campervan in the UK?
It depends on the season. Early spring and late autumn suit the coast, because most beach restrictions run between May and September, and many only in July and August. Summer is easier in the hills and forests, with no beach bans, though leads are still needed near livestock and in the bird breeding season.
Are dogs allowed on UK beaches in summer?
Often, but not everywhere. Many councils restrict dogs on some beaches, commonly from 1 May to 30 September, though the dates and hours vary. Cornwall, for example, restricts dogs between 10am and 6pm on most listed beaches from 1 July to 31 August. Always check the council order and the signs.
Do dogs need to be on a lead in the countryside?
Not always, but often. On open access land in England and Wales, dogs must be on a lead from 1 March to 31 July, and around livestock at any time of year. On public rights of way you need to keep dogs under close control. In Scotland the rule is control rather than a fixed lead date, and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code asks for a short lead or keeping your dog close at heel near farm animals and, in the bird breeding season (usually April to July), on moorland, in forests and on loch shores.
Can I leave my dog in the campervan?
Not in warm weather. The RSPCA warns that when it is 22°C outside a car could reach 47°C within an hour, even when parked in the shade or with the windows open. Campsites may have their own rules on leaving dogs unattended.
Do campsites charge extra for dogs?
Some do. A few pounds per dog per night is typical where there is a charge, and some sites include dogs in the pitch price. Fees and limits on dog numbers vary, so check each site.
Ready to book? See dog-friendly motorhome hire to find vans that accept pets.