We want your dog to feel as welcome as you are in our UK properties. As dog lovers ourselves, we’ve got some great tips for taking your dog on a short break. Plus we’ve got some great dog walks you should try in North Yorkshire.
Tip 1. Make sure the property you are going to accepts dogs
Our top tip is to make sure that all the properties you are looking at accept dogs. Here at The Short Stay Company we are dog friendly and welcome well behaved dogs at all our UK properties. Our one bedroom properties allow one dog and the larger properties take two.
If you are booking with us, please tell us as if you are bringing dogs with you.
We are a family of dog lovers at The Short Stay Company. Karen has had Bailey, a 10 year old Golden Retriever since she was a pup and Kirsty has a 5 year old Fox Red Labrador called Honey. We’ll tell you more about our adventures with our dogs in North Yorkshire later.
Tip 2. Make the property a home from home for your dog
Here at The Short Stay Company our aim is to offer our guests a home from home experience, so we also want the same for your dog. To make sure your dog is relaxed and settled on their break, we recommend you bring your dog’s bed and blanket with you. Some favourite toys will also help your dog feel at home in their holiday home.
Tip 3. Remember to pack for your dog!
Well they aren’t going to pack their own bag although they might sniff out the treats! To make sure your dog’s break is as comfortable and easy as possible, we recommend you pack the following:
- A travel bowl or water bottle – great for long walks or day trips
- Water and food bowls
- Your dog’s bed and blankets – these can help you dog feel at home
- Some favourite toys – to provide comfort and entertainment
- Old towels – your dog might get muddy or sandy paws out and about
- All your usual dog items – poo bags, lead, harness, food and any medications
- Some dog treats – it is a holiday for them too!
Tip 4. Research the local area and find some good walks
This is where we can help you! We are passionate about sharing our local knowledge of North Yorkshire with our guests and we love taking our dogs Honey and Bailey out for walks, so have plenty of suggestions!
If you are staying in Harrogate one of our favourite walks is through Valley Gardens and onwards to the Pinewoods which is 96 acres of woodland about a mile from the town centre. There is an easy one mile walk route through and around the woods, or if you want something longer you can continue through toRHS Harlow Carr Gardens and round Birk Crag. Bamber and Brown is perfect for a takeaway coffee, and the opportunity to refuel before your walk back to Harrogate.
If you are looking for a really long dog walk, then there is a 20 mile walk, known as the Harrogate Ringway. It goes all around Harrogate starting on Otley Road, find the details here. We also love walking in Nidd Gorge, which takes you from Harrogate to Ripley in one direction and to Knaresborough in the other, following a track alongside the River Nidd.
Our final Harrogate recommendation would be Thruscross. There is a 4 ½ mile route from the car park at Thruscross which takes you past some beautiful scenery and along the edge of the reservoir and the River Washburn.
Heading over to the coast and staying in Staithes, you will be spoilt for choice for walks and beaches. The Cleveland Way, a 110 mile National Trail is literally on your doorstep, with a variety of routes to walk. We love walking with our dogs from Staithes to Runswick Bay. For the more energetic you can walk from Staithes to Whitby, taking in the pretty villages of Runswick Bay and Sandsend. There are plenty of places to rest your tired legs and enjoy some refreshments along the way.
Staithes to Runswick Bay is a linear walk, across the cliff tops, so offers some amazing views (keep your dog on a lead for some parts!). It is a 2 mile walk there, so stop off for a drink in Runswick Bay or relax on the beach and then walk towards Whitby or back to Staithes. If you get too worn out, there are plenty of regular buses back to Staithes that allow dogs on board.
Tip 5. Be prepared, like you would if you were at home
Of course you are on holiday and the main aim is to relax and enjoy yourself, but it is best to be prepared in case something unexpected happens.
Find out where the local vets are – just in case of an emergency. Also make sure your dog’s collar has your mobile number on so that if they get lost, they can be reunited with you as soon as possible.
Read more about our dogs and their adventures in North Yorkshire
As promised (and because we love our dogs) we wanted to tell you a bit more about Bailey and Honey. They are the very best of friends, and although Bailey has become a bit of a princess as she’s got older, let’s say Honey knows who the boss is! They love running around together and always get really excited when they see each other.
They are chalk and cheese at times! Honey loves the water and swimming, Bailey is scared of the water but desperately wants to join in the fun! She is pretty pleased with herself if she manages to retrieve a stick from the sea as she’s scared of the waves. She does well to get anything at all considering she barely gets her front paws wet!
Bailey’s favourite activity is rolling in the grass, so a trip the Stray in Harrogate is the perfect place for her. Despite her fear of water, she has no problem with a good roll around in the mud and loves the snow, especially eating it! Honey’s favourite activity is eating! Always hungry and a typical lab, permanently on the lookout for her next treat!
We are spoiled for choice in North Yorkshire with so many amazing places for dog walks and they both love a doggy ice cream by the sea, but for Bailey it is always enjoyed at a safe distance from the waves!
We hope you enjoy experiencing North Yorkshire with your dog as much as we do every day.
