A recent survey by holidaycottages.co.uk asking staycationers when they’re happiest, discovered that nearly one in five responses included mention of a dog.
The holiday letting agent’s internal booking data reveals that more than 40% of bookings included dogs over the last 12 months.
The company asked UK dog owners about their happiest holiday memories and favourite destinations to visit with their dogs.
Each place was rated using a unique ‘dog-friendly super score’, which looked at suitability, outdoor spaces and walkability.
The team at holidaycottages.co.uk have revealed the UK’s happiest dog-friendly staycation breaks.
When it comes to the UK destinations that will keep our pups entertained, the North West Highlands took the crown, followed by Cumbria and Northumberland in second and third places respectively.
Home to the Lake District National Park, Cumbria is a haven for man’s best friend thanks to its range of walking trails. From gentle lakeside strolls to challenging mountain hikes, where most paths are well-maintained, there’s something to keep all paws – from the most laidback to the most adventurous pups – happy.
Plus, local attractions like heritage railways and boat tours often allow dogs, making it easy to include them in days-out.
A holidaymaker shared in the survey: “We spent a fantastic summer’s day with our dogs walking around Bowness and then having ice cream on the edge of Lake Windermere with stunning views behind us.”
The data comes from a wider 12,000-person survey on holiday happiness, which was carried out between March and April 2025.
Sarah Pring, Digital PR Manager at holidaycottages.co.uk, said: “Joy for our four-legged friends can be found in so many places – whether it’s bounding through the waves on a sandy beach, exploring woodland trails with their tails wagging, or curling up by the fire after a day of adventure. Just like humans, every dog has their own happy place, and we wanted to highlight some of the UK’s most tail-waggingly joyful spots to inspire more pet-friendly getaways that dogs (and their owners) will love.”
