Keep safe!

Keep safe!
You are responsible for your own safety and that of your dog. The walks listed in this blog are not detailed guides. Plan your route! Click the landrover image for safety advice from Bowland Pennine MRT.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Dog Friendly Pubs

We've found quite a few dog friendly pubs whilst visiting Cumbria and Cornwall but haven't visited many dog friendly pubs in Lancashire. There are a few websites out there which given general pub reviews but not many that seem to be aimed specifically at dog owners, listing pubs that allow dogs.

The best site we've come across is http://www.doggiepubs.org.uk
Basically there are three criteria that the supporters of Doggie Pubs website give the thumbs up to:

- where good wines and beer are well kept
- where you can eat well
- where your well-behaved dog is welcome to be with you while you eat.

If you're looking for a dog friendly pub have a look at this site and, together, we can help keep an up to date list of the best dog friendly pubs in Lancashire and beyond.

http://www.doggiepubs.org.uk

Doggie Pubs supports the Border Terrier Welfare Charity http://www.borderterrierwelfare.org.uk/.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Lanes and fields from Leyland Road

Much to the dog's delight we managed a walk of about an hour and a half, mainly on country lanes and footpaths this morning, without setting foot in the car. Best of all, our starting point was near to Leyland Road, only a mile or so from the centre of Preston.

We headed off on one of regular routes down Bee Lane. It's a lovely stroll, past the stables and over the cross roads, leading to a private lane and ending with a gate and stile, where the footpath leads over open fields.

After manoeuvring the dog over the stile, and keeping a watchful eye on nearby grazing cattle, we followed the path over the Penwortham Way bypass and through more open fields to a farm track which led us to Green Lane. Judging by the dog's excitement, I think the muck spreader had passed by recently but fortunately the dry weather of the past few days gave little opportunity for him to make the most of it!

Our route was completed with a circuit of Newgate Lane, Chain House Lane and Pope Lane before retracing our steps to home. Not before though the dog had launched himself into the biggest muddy puddle in sight, so ruining (for me anyway) an otherwise nice clean walk!

Click here for Google map

Doggy rating 6/10

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Ullswater, Glenridding to Howtown (Cumbria)

The dog wasn't happy being relegated to the hatchback for today's trip to the lakes, whilst his new found Cairn Terrier friend was allowed on its mums lap on the back seat. Eventually though ,we arrived at the main car park next to the visitor centre at Glenridding, ready for a relatively gentle wander round the lake shore to Howtown, with a return by Ullswater Steamer.

A large open field next to the Steamer Pier provided an early highlight for the dog, with not a sheep in sight he was able to had a quick run with his ball and show off some of his skills learnt at dog training school. Soon though it was time to head off along the footpath to Patterdale before crossing the head of the lake to the far bank.

The path stayed close to the shore throughout but with the risk of sheep at lambing time, the dog was pretty much on the lead throughout. Each time we dropped through the trees and low level crags to the rocky shoreline the dog went frantic, longing for an ice cold swim. It wasn't to be though and after about three and a half hours we arrived at the steamer pier at Howtown, ending with a rather rushed final half mile whilst we walked and watched the steamer getting closer and closer to the pier. All ended well though and we arrived just as the passengers were embarking for the return to Glenridding.

The day was rounded off with a pub lunch at the Travellers Rest at Glenridding. The pub is set back about 600 yards from the main road but is well recommended. It's not listed as "dog friendly" but the landlord was quite happy to let the dogs join us in the bar area. The surroundings were simple and a roaring fire and good pub grub were just what was needed. Had we been really wet and bedraggled there was a good sheltered area which could have been a godsend.

Click here for the Ullswater Steamers website

Click here for the Travellers Rest website

Doggy rating 6/10 (because there were relatively few places where we felt able to let him off the lead)