Motorhome travel: 10 dog-friendly campsites

Looking to holiday with your dog? Here are 10 motorhome and campervan sites for curious noses and muddy paws, so four-legged friends can enjoy motorhome holidays, too.

 Bakewell Camping & Caravanning Club Site, Derbyshire

Hopping Lane, Youlgreave, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE5 1NA
01629 636555
31 March – 6 November

The Peak District National Park is well-known for its beauty, its open spaces and, of course, mile upon mile of walking trails – you are spoilt for choice for places to explore with your dog. The Bakewell Club site is located within the national park, just five miles from the town of Bakewell. The town is situated on the banks of the River Wye with pretty stone buildings, a medieval five-arched stone bridge and quaint courtyards – it's a lovely place to explore. The village of Youlgreave is only a 30-minute walk away from the site, with several dog-friendly pubs.

Bakewell Camping & Caravanning Club Site enjoys a peaceful, rural setting, with countryside views and a back to nature camping experience. As such there are no toilets or showers on site so you will need your own facilities in your campervan. There are 100 pitches including hardstanding and grass pitches with electric hook-up. On site is a children's play area and a designated dog walk.

 Fen Farm Caravan Site, Essex

Moore Lane, East Mersea, Colchester, Essex CO5 8FE
01206 383275
11 March – 29 October

Located on Mersea Island, in the east of England, Fen Farm is ideal for people looking for a quiet retreat. Welcoming families, couples and dogs, the site has all the facilities you need without the hustle and bustle that generally comes with pools, clubhouses and entertainment.

Fen Farm is situated by the sea and close to a country park in a small village location. There are pitches with electric hook-up available, award-winning toilets, a family shower room, laundry and WiFi. There's a pub a few minutes' walk away, a vineyard with courtyard café nearby, and the island is also famous for delicious freshly caught oysters.

For those with dogs there's no extra charge for bringing your pet on holiday. The site has a field to exercise them in and there are dog bins located around the site. Many walks are nearby and a dog-friendly beach is just five minutes' walk away. Next door to Fen Farm is Cudmore Grove Country Park with a nature reserve, grassland, meadows and a sandy beach. Better still, dogs are more than welcome to explore here with their owners.

 Heligan Caravan & Camping Park, Cornwall

St Ewe, St Austell, Cornwall PL26 6EL
01726 842714
6 January – 19 November

Heligan Caravan & Camping Park is a five-star accredited campsite sitting high on a hillside in a small secluded landscaped garden with views out over Mevagissey Bay. It is naturally sheltered by beautiful woodland on the Heligan Estate, home of the famous Lost Gardens of Heligan. Hardstanding and grass pitches, are available. Campsite facilities include a heated shower and toilet block, with a wet room, plus laundrette, a small, well-stocked shop and a children's play area.

Up to two dogs per pitch are allowed on site and there are plenty of nearby dog-friendly walks. One of the draws of this site is that it is adjacent to the Lost Gardens of Heligan – a side gate from the site leads directly to the entrance of over 200 acres of magnificent gardens, ancient woodlands and rare wildlife. Dogs are welcome in the gardens all year round and they offer a perfect walk for you and your four-legged friend, with miles of pathways and routes to explore.

For a day at the beach it is only two miles to the coast and nearby Mevagissey, Portmellon, Gorran Haven, Hemmick, Porthluney Cove and Portholland are all dog-friendly beaches.

 Appuldurcombe Gardens Holiday Park, Isle of Wight

Wroxall, Ventnor, Isle of Wight PO38 3EP
01983 852597
February – November

This idyllic family-run holiday park is situated within 14 acres of secluded grounds, surrounded by open countryside. The park is located in the valley of the Stenbury and St Martin's Downs, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For walkers there is an excellent network of footpaths that can be accessed within minutes from the park. If you'd rather head to the beach for a day out with your dog, it's only a short drive to the famous coves and beaches of Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor and the island has miles of unspoiled coastline to explore.

The touring and camping areas are set within grassland, with a small stream running alongside this area, connecting to a meadow with tranquil seating and a pond full of natural planting and wildlife. There is a choice of grass and hardstanding pitches. Facilities on site include a shop, play area, café and takeaway service, plus an outdoor heated pool and toddler pool.

 Hedley Wood Caravan & Camping Park, Devon

Bridgerule, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 7ED
01288 381404
All year

Nestling in 17 acres of tranquil woodland, a short drive from Widemouth Bay, this site was the winner of the Kennel Club 'Somewhere to Camp' award in 2012. There's plenty of open space to enjoy walks with your dog and a bar with conservatory and terrace area where you can relax with your four-legged friend after a day's adventure.

There is no charge for bringing dogs on holiday with you, and the pet-friendly features include a mile-long dog walk and nature trail, pet food and accessories on sale within the site shop, and a kennelling facility (charge applies) where you can leave your dog for a few hours should you wish to visit somewhere that doesn't allow pets.

For days out with your dog and a chance to stretch the legs, why not take the 10-minute drive to the coast at Widemouth Bay? As well as dog-friendly beaches there are clifftop walks in either direction offering stunning sea views.

Pitches on site are available in sheltered or open areas, with hardstandings and electric available. Facilities include toilets, showers and a laundry.

 Whitby Holiday Park, North Yorkshire

Saltwick Bay, Whitby YO22 4JX
01947 602664
1 March – 31 October

Set amid peaceful footpaths, golden beaches and vast countryside, Whitby Holiday Park occupies a clifftop location with fantastic coastal views. The delights of Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay are nearby and Saltwick Bay and the Cleveland Way Coastal Path are both accessible direct from the park. Historic Whitby Abbey can be seen from the site and it's just a short stroll to get there. There are footpaths direct from the site and down to the expansive sandy beach where dogs are welcome.

Most of the holiday park's pitches are on grass with electric and have views over the coast. There are a few hardstanding pitches if required, and these are closer to the amenities, but don't have coastal views. Facilities on site include a toilet block, shop, laundry, play area, games room, and a newly refurbished bar with entertainment at peak times.

You can walk into Whitby via the Cleveland Way, where there's a harbour and beach plus a variety of shops, pubs and restaurants.

Oswestry, Cranberry Moss Camping & Caravanning Club Site, Shropshire

Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 8DY
01743 741118
All year

Situated close to the border where Shropshire meets Wales, this site is set within one mile of the north loop of the Shropshire Way, which covers 297 miles of stunning countryside with views of hills and plains. The site is an excellent base for walking and nearby Nesscliffe Country Park has a variety of waymarked trails. There are a variety of attractions nearby including two World Heritage Sites – Ironbridge Gorge and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. There's also the Pistyll Rhaedr Waterfalls, four National Trust properties and five heritage railways in the area.

For dogs there are two dog walks on site, a dog grooming service and the nearby local pubs accept dogs, too. A bridle path starts just outside the site which is a great option for a longer walk with your dog. The Oswestry site has hardstanding and grass pitches with electric hook-up. Facilities include toilets and showers, a family shower room and shop. The site also has a social room, 'The Barn', where regular events are held throughout the year.

Willowbank Holiday Home & Touring Park, Merseyside

Coastal Road, Ainsdale, Southport PR8 3ST
01704 571566
14 February - 31 January

Willowbank Holiday Home and Touring Park covers almost 30 acres, five miles from the centre of Southport. The park is within walking distance of a nature reserve and the Sefton coastline. Willowbank is just ¾ mile from the Ainsdale & Birkdale Sandhills Local Nature Reserve – one of the largest areas of wild dunes left in Britain. Here you will find many trails through the sand dunes system where dogs are welcome, and there's lots of flora and fauna to see including the scarce natterjack toad.

The touring park has 87 mixed pitches with electric hook-up. On-site facilities include heated showers and toilets, disabled access, a laundry, dog exercise area and children's play area.

Four miles away is Formby Pinewood with lots of woodland walking trails, and Formby beach (which is dog-friendly) is a 10-minute drive. Another 10 minutes further on is Crosby beach, home to the life-size cast iron figures by acclaimed artist, Antony Gormley. The art installation is called Another Place, and there are 100 figures in total, situated along the beach and out to sea.

 Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park, Swansea

North Hills Farm, Penmaen, Swansea SA3 2HB
01792 371218
1 April – 5 November

A family-run, award-winning site with one of the most spectacular views from a campsite ever – overlooking the golden sands and rocky terrain of Three Cliffs Bay. The beach here offers a wilder, more barren experience. At low tide there's a vast open beach with plenty of space for dogs to run around. And they are welcome all year round. The spectacular shoreline includes sand dunes, salt marsh and the signature three limestone cliffs.

The campsite at Three Cliffs Bay is within walking distance of the beach and is on the Wales Coast Path. Facilities include a toilet block, with showers, toilets, washbasins, a family room and a disabled room. Pitches are available with electric hook-up if required. There's also an on-site shop and coffee shop. The new farm shop is well-stocked with a variety of local produce including barbecue food, bread, ice cream and dairy goods.

 Hendra Holiday Park, Cornwall

Newquay, Cornwall TR8 4NY
01637 875778
31 March – 4 November

Hendra offers over 700 pitches set across 12 spacious fields within 80 acres of countryside just over a mile from Newquay's miles of golden sand beaches. Hendra's award-winning facilities include toilets and showers, a bar, restaurant, café, fish & chip and pizzeria takeaways, and a supermarket. A full entertainment programme, playgrounds, outdoor fitness facilities and an indoor and outdoor pools complex, are just some of the amenities here.

There are pitches especially for dog owners, handily located near the dog-walking area. Hendra's website has a list of the many dog-friendly pubs in Newquay. One of Newquay's most famous beaches, Fistral, has dog-friendly sections all year round. This wide expanse of golden sand is popular with families and at the very heart of the surfing scene.

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