Black Rocks Cromford

Here are a few lovely dog walks that we have put together when you come up to the Peak District with your 4 legged friend!

Monyash Meander – a short 2 mile walk around the village of Monyash and surrounding dales. Finishing with a visit to either a dog friendly pub or cafe.

The Wild Rhubarb Walk – try some of the Monsal Trail, but then drop down to the riverside and enjoy the peace and tranquility and nature.

The Bakewell Loop – a fairly flat circular walk of about 3 miles, along parts of the Monsal Trail from Bakewell. Along the way you will pass Hassop Station which houses a coffee shop. There is space outside to sit undercover with your dog. Otherwise you need to find the dog friendly pubs and coffee shops in Bakewell itself.

The Cromford Canal and High Peak Incline  – a pleasant walk along the canal followed by an uphill climb along the High Peak trail and then drop back down into Cromford, where there are dog friendly pubs.

Black Rocks – is close to Cromford and is a great place to let your dog off lead. There are a choice of way marked paths you can follow.

All of the above walks allow your dog to be off the lead, there are other places that you can try some of which may require your dogs to be on the lead – particularly the National Trust walks - although some places are more lenient than others.

Finally there are Woodland walks which are usually offlead and offer your dog plenty of fun.

Hopefully one of these will take your fancy! Enjoy your walks.

Sunny Goyt Valley

Bank Holiday weekend is upon us! It’s time to plan your weekend and see where you can take your beloved pet!

Here is a selection of things you can do:

Visit Buxton on Bank Holiday Monday and hear the Oughtibridge Brass Band playing in the Pavillion Gardens band stand. From 2-4pm. The weather looks like it should be good! Dogs on leads in the Park.

Also in Buxton – try The Wonder of the Peak – a new tram – converted from a milk float! It’s only small and seats 8 people, but is dog friendly as long as all the passengers are ok with dogs.

Grinlow Woods and Solomons Temple (Buxton)
Your dog will have a lovely time whizzing around the woods. Your children can follow the orienteering trail, if you can find the markers! Spectacular views from Solomons Temple overlooking Buxton and surrounding areas.
Afterwards, you can get refreshments in the Pooles Cavern coffee shop, which welcomes muddy boots and dogs.

Chatsworth House
Dogs are allowed in the parkland on a lead. They are also allowed in the garden, on a lead.
http:www.chatsworth.org

Chesterfield Market
Famous outdoor market
General market: Mon, Fri & Saturday.

Crich Tramway Museum
Tel: 01773 854321
http:www.tramway.co.uk
Dogs can travel on the trams but need to be on leads on the site. There is a lovely woodland walk that you can do, when the weather permits.

Hardwick Hall, Doe Lea, Chesterfield
Tel: 01246 850430
Dogs allowed on leads around the grounds. There are picnic tables outside that can be used to eat with your dog. You can visit the Hardwick Inn later – they are dog friendly and serve awesome Afternoon Teas!

Heights of Abraham
Travel by Cable car to the Caverns, exhibitions and Treetop park. Dogs are not allowed inside the caverns or buildings, but there are seats outside that you can have a meal with your dog (good weather permitting).
Note: There are some woods just outside the boundary of the park, where you can let your dog off the lead) http://www.heightsofabraham.com/welcome/8/faqs

Lyme Hall and Park
Disley, Stockport.
Tudor house with medieval deer park. Dogs are allowed in the park area. Off lead in places, as long as not near the deer.

Peak Rail
Your dog can travel with you on the Rowsley to Matlock steam train.

http://www.peakrail.co.uk/fares/

Renishaw Hall
Dogs are welcome in the gardens on leads, as long as owners clear up after them.
Drinking water for dogs is available by the kiosk and in the Courtyard.

http://www.renishaw-hall.co.uk/day-visitors.aspx

Staffordshire Peak District

Churnet Valley Railway
Tel: 01538 750755
A scenic railway line through a beautiful part of Staffordshire known as “Little Switzerland”
Dogs can travel on the train for £1.50!
http:www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk

Tilly waiting to board the Buxton Tram

Try the new “Buxton Tram” – known as “The Wonder of the Peak”. It is actually a converted milk float which has been built to look like a tram.  They are dog friendly as the picture shows!

Tilly is pictured here with Nick, our driver and co owner of the tram.

We experienced the Town tour and Nick gave us lots of information about the Opera House, Old Hall Hotel, The Crescent, The Devonshire Dome, Buxton Museum on Dale Road, then St Anne’s Church, followed by a whiz down Bath Road and past Broadwalk and then back to the Opera House.

I’m told most dogs fall asleep during the tour! However Tilly wanted fuss from everyone on the tram – all of which were doggie people…

The tram also visits Poole’s Cavern, however you need to check with the driver first before boarding the tram, just to check that they are doing that route.

For dog walkers, the Poole’s Cavern stop would be great, whilst dogs aren’t currently allowed in the cavern (due to safety reasons), there is a lovely dog friendly cafe inside the cavern complex, where dog biscuits are offered to all dogs. There is also Grinlow Woods, next to Poole’s Cavern, which is a dog walkers paradise.

New footpath markers in Grinlow Woods

There are newly constructed footpath signs that you can follow, so that you won’t get lost! Leaflets are available from the Poole’s Cavern reception.

All in all, this is a fun trip, however, just as a word of caution, the tram only seats 8 people, so it is quite cosy if they are busy. It is also courteous to check beforehand that all tram riders are happy with dogs onboard, we had no problems the day we travelled, but it is wise to check first.

For dog friendly stops in Buxton, you can visit the Old Hall Hotel, where you can sit in either of the lounges at the front of the hotel, and you can be served tea, coffee, cakes etc… Also an alternative is Barbarella’s (a wine bar) which is very dog friendly, but sadly children are not allowed due to licensing laws, and can be found at No7, The Quadrant.

Overall, a nice day out in Buxton with your dog!

To experience the tour costs £5 and more information can be found on their website

Dog Friendly Treak Cliff Cavern

Well this one was a surprise!  I only found out about this because staff at another Cavern told me.  Having checked their website, it quite clearly states that Dogs are welcome at all times!

Treak Cliff Hill in Castleton, is said to be the only place in the world, where Blue John stone naturally occurs. The Treak Cliff Cavern continues to mine, process and manufacture Blue John to this day.

This mineral known as the Blue John stone, is a unique banded form of flurospar and the name is said to have come from the french words “bleue et jaune” or blue and yellow to you and me.

There are plenty examples of this mineral that can be purchased both in the gift shop and other shops around Castleton and the Peak District. Many have been worked into pretty pendants and jewellery, but you can also buy pieces of the stone.

It is great to see that dogs are allowed in this special cavern, because all members of the family can visit the cavern and see the spectacular sights that await them.

Check their website for details about special events and times.

Afterwards there are plenty of dog friendly pubs to visit in Castleton or perhaps try a dog friendly cafe.

Tilly at Crich Tramway Museum

We spent a lovely day last summer visiting the Crich Tramway museum. Dogs are welcome on the site and are able to ride on the trams, which Tilly found quite a thrill. Some of the trams are almost open air, so it really made her ears flap!

The staff are very knowledgeable and are happy to answer any questions that you might have whilst you are aboard the trams.

There is also a woodland walk and sculpture trail where you can exercise your pet, however they will have to remain on the lead. There are plenty of picnic places to have some lunch and play areas for the children too.

There are often craft events that are held, and my daughter spent a few happy moments making a very beautiful hat!

For those of you who have a sweet tooth, you can visit Barnett’s sweet shop where you will find old fashioned jars of sweets and confectionary. There is also a lovely tea shop that you can visit, but dogs sadly are not allowed inside. There are however tables and chairs outside, so if the weather is quite pleasant you will be fine.

Crich Tramway museum can be found in Crich, near Matlock.
Postcode for Sat Nav is DE4 5DP
Check their website for details of special events.

Dog Friendly steam trains

Travel back in time and experience the thrill of a byegone era whilst travelling on Peak Rails heritage railway line. The line forms part of the old Midland Railway line which ran between Manchester and London St Pancras. It has been re-instated mostly by volunteers and currently runs between Rowsley and Matlock, over a distance of four miles.

There are special events held throughout the year, and it is best to check their website prior to going, just to check availability.

Dogs are welcome to travel on the train, and will appreciate the low windows and the slow pace that the train travels.

There are a number of dogfriendly pubs and dog friendly coffee shops within a short walk of Matlock station.

You will also find that the Limestone Way is easy to get to from Matlock station if you fancy a walk over the hills towards Bonsall.

Dog on the Edge!

I hope this picture goes somewhere to explaining why the Peak District is such a brilliant place to bring your dog! Where else can you find such stunning scenery and the freedom to be offlead.

There are miles of tracks and footpaths that lead to beautiful places and stunning vistas.

Tilly in the Goyt Valley

Water Cum Jolly

There are hundreds of dog friendly cafes and pubs to take refreshments after a long day walking in the countryside.

The fresh air and exercise does wonders for your dog as well as for dog owners themselves.

Try the Goyt Valley for a selection of walks, including woodland walks, moorland walks and strolls by the waterside.

There are rivers and streams which are wonderful to look at, and in some cases very refreshing for dogs to cool  down on a hot day, or take a drink from.

There are long distance paths such as the Limestone Way, The Pennine Bridleway and the High Peak Trail (to name just a few) which offer many dog walking opportunities.

There are also several visitor attractions that welcome dogs. For example, you can travel on a tram with your dog at Crich Tramway museum, or ride on a steam train from Rowsley to Matlock with Peak Rail.

For more ideas visit our website www.dogfriendlypeakdistrict.co.uk

Dog Friendly steam trains

Here’s a useful list of places that you can go with your dog during the Easter break.

Chatsworth House
Dogs are allowed in the parkland on a lead. They are also allowed in the garden, on a lead.
http:www.chatsworth.org

Chesterfield Market
Famous outdoor market
General market: Mon, Fri & Saturday.
Farmers market: 2nd Thursday of month

Crich Tramway Museum
Tel: 01773 854321
http:www.tramway.co.uk
Dogs can travel on the trams but need to be on leads on the site. There is a lovely woodland walk that you can do, when the weather permits.

Grinlow Woods and Solomons Temple (Buxton)
Your dog will have a lovely time whizzing around the woods. Your children can follow the orienteering trail, if you can find the markers! Spectacular views from Solomons Temple overlooking Buxton and surrounding areas.
Afterwards, you can get refreshments in the Pooles Cavern coffee shop, which welcomes muddy boots and dogs.

Hardwick Hall, Doe Lea, Chesterfield
Tel: 01246 850430
Dogs allowed on leads around the grounds. There are picnic tables outside that can be used to eat with your dog.

Heights of Abraham
Travel by Cable car to the Caverns, exhibitions and Treetop park. Dogs are not allowed inside the caverns or buildings, but there are seats outside that you can have a meal with your dog (good weather permitting).
Note: There are some woods just outside the boundary of the park, where you can let your dog off the lead) http://www.heightsofabraham.com/welcome/8/faqs

Lyme Hall and Park
Disley, Stockport.
Tudor house with medieval deer park. Dogs are allowed in the park area. Off lead in places, as long as not near the deer.

Peak Rail
Your dog can travel with you on the Rowsley to Matlock steam train.

http://www.peakrail.co.uk/fares/

Renishaw Hall
Dogs are welcome in the gardens on leads, as long as owners clear up after them.
Drinking water for dogs is available by the kiosk and in the Courtyard.

http://www.renishaw-hall.co.uk/day-visitors.aspx

Staffordshire Peak District

Churnet Valley Railway
Tel: 01538 750755
A scenic railway line through a beautiful part of Staffordshire known as “Little Switzerland”
Dogs can travel on the train for £1.50!
http:www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk

Two loopy labs playing in snowdrift

With all the heavy snowfall that we have had in the last week, we are still left with huge drifts and piles of snow by the roadside. This can be a real pain for most of us, but for two dogs, the snow drift in the garden proved an irresistible game….

Check out the video to see two loopy labradors having lots of fun in the snow!

Little Happy Hounds favourite dog walk

One of our favourite dog walks in Fernilee Reservoir, part of the Goyt Valley and just in the beginnings of the national park.

Just after Whaley Bridge Derbyshire you head through the village of Fernilee and into Peak District National Park, eventually on the right is a track that leads to reservoir and car park.

Then there are so many dog friendly options, an easy circuit around the reservoir and back, or you could branch of to Errwood Reservoir and higher Goyt Valley, or if you branched off right  it takes towards the village of Taxal.

One side the reservoir is wooded and you can explore the many paths and eventually at the top there is a quiet logging road.

Fernilee reservoir

I have never had any issues with any of my dogs running off or anything at all.

So many options, your rarely have to keep your dogs on leads, except when going through farm yards, it so dog friendly, very scenic, beautiful blue water against the back drop the trees… stunning place I have lots more pics!