Hello everyone and welcome back,
We hope you have had a great week, the weather has turned out fine and my thoughts are turning towards longer dogs walks and trips away. I must say it is a privilege to be able to visit beautiful places and take my dogs. I am just a bit sad that our girls are getting on and we certainly cannot take them to the places we used to. So short walks and visits to a local river is about the best. It would be nice to share some of our memories of great days out and the sheer joy that I know you experience as well when you see your dog just having the best time.
1. Ullswater. in the Lake District is a stunning lake with great walks, on our first morning we took the Steamer from Pooley Bridge down to Howtown pier , the dogs loved the Journey but obviously we kept on a leads on board as they would have been over the side given the smallest of chances. The weather was fine, but we ensured even though by a lake we had plenty of fresh water for them and us. It’s only a 5 mile walk, so we took the Swarthbeck route, this climbs from Howtown Pier and plateaus out around what is called the Cockpit a large stone circle. The gently undulating moors open out and eventually you are rewarded with views that are amazing and you can really let the dogs go wild they loved every minute. We descended back into Pooley Bridge for a well-earned drink of water for the dogs and a pint for us.
2. Aysgarth Falls. Woodland route, this starting with the Middle then Lower falls heading off into the countryside away from the falls. Some of this route is on private farm land so dogs must be kept on a lead. I must admit not my most favorite…….. I know I called this great dog walks, but the falls and access to shallow water is what they loved. We stayed in the Wheatsheaf Inn and the dogs loved it. We could walk from there every day to the falls through flat country side leading down to the falls and walking to the visitor centre. Leyburn and Hawes are great places to visit and the dogs were welcome in most of the Pubs.
3. Ingleton falls. By far my most favourite, we did this with the dogs a few years ago, Holly and Poppy could not get enough of it, a circular route, climbing and falling with the falls it can be hard going and while the dogs breezed it we were a little slower. Normally the route takes between 2 and 4 hours depending on how quick the human escorts are, if you left it to the dogs they would be done in 30 mins. A small cafe is a welcome relief an hour in and if open that hot cup of tea is brilliant. It’s so sad now that the dogs would not be able to manage it again, but we have great memories of them and our days out.
Top tip: often we would come back to our hotel/pub and the dogs would be pretty wet and dirty and while we always kept towels in the car, I wish the Waterproof blankets were around then, back in the room trying to dry them off and keep their bedding dry was tough, its easy today with a couple of 4Pawsyorkshire waterproof blankets we don’t have to worry.
Until next time, enjoy your dogs.
D.
