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, June 28, 2009

Hollingworth Lake, Littleborough

Taxi duties for the Take That concert at Old Trafford yesterday saw found us in Manchester with a few hours on our hands, so rather than return to Preston we headed off to Hollingworth Lake, near Littleborough.

Hollingworth Lake was one of the 2007 "Top Dog Walks" so we were looking forward to the trip. The Lake is actually a reservoir built to supply the Rochdale Canal. In victorian times it grew to be something of a tourist hotspot and there is still something of that feel today.

We parked on the pay and display car park next to the activity centre. It was very very busy with hoards of people enjoying the late afternoon sunshine. Our first impressions were rather disappointing, mainly because of the numbers of people, but that's what comes with visiting a waterside tourist spot on a warm afternoon! With a can't beat them join them attitude we head off clockwise round the lake though, with the dog on the lead along the small promenade, before enjoying some great sense of tranquility once we were passed the busy Lake hotel. From here, we walked along the road, passing the entrance to the visitors centre, which would have made a better parking spot, before eventually turning off and joining a virtually car free path beside the lake shore.

The route along this path was much better. The dog had a chance to run off lead, and one or two paths leading down to "beaches" allowed a paddle and a game of fetch. Views over the moors were great, especially with spectacular rain clouds looming!

After an hour and a half or so we returned to the car park and couldn't resist the award winning Mr Thomas' Fish and Chips. We drove round to the visitors centre car park to enjoy them in relative peace! Perhaps not quite as good as Rick Steins Fish and Chips in Padstow a few weeks ago, but less than half the price and pretty good!

All in all a nice place to visit. Perhaps a quieter time would have been better, but an interesting option to walking along the high Pennine edges close by. Good solid paths throughout so very accessible for buggies and wheelchairs.

Click here for Google map

Doggy rating 7/10

(I nearly forgot - apparently Take That were amazing, but, yes, they did get very very wet. The pictures of the elephant looked impressive! I'm told it was the best Take That concert ever, only beaten by the Take That ITV special before Christmas)

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Dog Friendly Cornwall

The rain is pouring down outside but luckily we've had a few good and mainly dry weeks on holday in Cornwall. As before, Cornwall proved to be a pretty dog friendly county and a good time was had by all. This years dog freindly higlights included:

Best walks and dog friendly beaches

The Beaches between Rock and Daymar Bay - Miles of dog friendly beach and sand dunes which are virtually deserted other than the occasional dog walker in the early morning. Fantastic!

Pentire Head and the Rumps - Spectacular cliff walks, but keep your dog on the lead!

Watergate Bay - Great beach and out of peak season there are plenty of quieter stretches. The Beach Hut overlooking the bay is the dog friendly alternative to Jamie Oliver's 15!

The Camel Trail - Miles of old railway track through great scenery. The stretch between Padstow and Wadebridge is most popular with cyclists but there are plenty of other stretches to visit.

Best dog friendly places to eat

The Blue Peter at Polperro - The best dog friendly pub (if not just the best pub!) in Cornwall. Lovely setting right on the harbourside, really welcoming landlord, good beer and fantastic food. Dogs welcome in bar.

The Wellington at Boscastle - Welcoming dog friendly hotel and pub. Good beer and good food. Dogs welcome throughout.

The Customs House in Padstow - Very dog friendly in the bar. Not the best food but ok, and a good place to eat if it's raining or cold!

The Old Inn at St Breward - One of our favourite places last year, and just as good this year. Just on the edge of Bodmin Moor. Dogs welcome in the spacious bar area.