I vaguely remember going to the Isle of Wight when I was a child. My lasting memory is the funny coloured sand! There is obviously so much more to the island than that. To find out some of the dog friendly places on the Isle of Wight – read on.
Dog Friendly Isle of Wight
The western end of the Isle of Wight – the West Wight – is rural, unspoilt and so pretty. The weather is generally good with amazing sunrises and sunsets and dramatic clouds reflecting on the sea. It is the perfect holiday destination for dogs. There are so many lovely walks of all lengths and to suit all abilities. Take your pick from woodland, on beaches, downland and near rivers. There is also historic interest and many attractions for the humans!
Dog Friendly Walks
Freshwater is a thriving and friendly village and the town of Yarmouth is pretty and quaint. A good day out would be to have lunch at ‘Off the Rails‘ Café in Yarmouth. Next, walk down the abandoned railway which runs alongside the Yar Estuary to Freshwater. Stop off for a cup of tea at the ‘End of the Line‘ Café. Finally, take a stroll through the fields on the other side of the estuary back to Yarmouth. Both cafés have outside seating areas, so dogs can come along too.
A walk from Freshwater Bay over Tennyson Down and West High Down to the Needles and back offers fantastic views across the Solent to the New Forest. In the far distance you will glimpse the chalk cliffs of Ballard Down near Swanage which are an extension of the Freshwater Downs. Once at the Needles, visit the Needles Old Battery with it’s wartime history or stroll round the evocative concrete remains of the Rocket Testing Site looking out over the English Channel.
Dog Friendly Beaches
There are many beautiful beaches around the coast of the West Wight: Alum Bay – the one with the coloured sands and Brook Bay are open to dogs all year. Freshwater Bay with it’s round grey pebbles and crystal clear water; Colwell Bay and Totland Bay all have at least one section which is always accessible to dogs.
If your dog likes a run through the woods, then the Fort Victoria Country Park is the place to go. With its many attractions: a Planetarium, a Sea Life Centre and a Model Railway there is plenty for children. Lunch at Verdi’s Café looking out over the fast flowing tides in the Solent would set you up for a ramble around the Nature Trail.
Dog Friendly Holidays on the Isle of Wight
So now that we’ve given you just a few ideas of dog friendly places on the Isle of Wight to visit, you are going to need somewhere to stay.
There’s plenty of choice of dog friendly holidays on the Isle of Wight for you to choose from. Whether it’s a self catering cottage, hotel or holiday park you’re after, you can find details on our Hampshire & Isle of Wight page at www.dogsinvited.co.uk.