Pets welcome too - Dog-friendly escapes in Eryri (Snowdonia)
A break in Eryri (Snowdonia) is fun for all the family – including the four-legged members. There’s a wealth of places all over the region that are perfect for getting away with your pooch. You’ll find wide-open spaces ideal for a fun game of fetch, places to stay that provide a warm welcome for furry friends and even places where dogs can put their paws up and enjoy a refreshing ice-cream made just for them.
To give you an idea of what you can expect, here’s a run-down of just some of the places that welcome your pet pooch. There are many more.
Where to stay
Check into one of the Llechwedd glamping tents at Plas Weunydd. Perched above the rugged, rocky expanse of slate quarries in Blaenau Ffestiniog (now home to Zip World’s high-wire attractions and below-ground adventures), these cosy escapes are ideal for dog-friendly getaways. The tents sleep up to five people (alongside their canine companion) and come with a warming wood-burning stove, private deck and easy access to the outside world for walks and exploration.
If life under canvas isn’t for you, there are a wealth of self-catering options to choose from. Rhydolion at Llangian near Pwllheli has three cosy stone-built cottages that welcome families with dogs. Located just a mile from Porth Neigwl – the surfing hotspot also known as Hell’s Mouth – it’s a great spot for adventurous escapes.
For inland adventure, there’s Bron-Nant Holiday Cottage, close to the Betws-y-Coed (the outdoor activity capital of North Wales). With room for up to eight humans and their pets, it’s an idyllic escape in the heart of Eryri. As well as a wealth of activities to enjoy in the National Park, there’s a natural pool fed by the brook that flows through the property which can be used for wild swimming and canoeing. The cottage’s elevated position also provides spectacular views across Eryri.
Enjoy memorable riverside strolls with your four-legged friend at Garden Cottage near Dolgellau. The cosy stone cottage is perfectly placed to explore the Torrent Walk, a Victorian walking route laid out along the banks of the River Clywedog by architect Thomas Payne that winds through wild woodland and past tumbling cascades.
If you’re in the market for a truly luxurious dog-friendly stay, try Palé Hall near Bala in Eryri’s eastern reaches. This opulent country house hotel, part of the Relais & Chateaux collection, is one of only two properties in Wales to hold a five red star rating from the AA.
A generous number of Palé Hall’s classically-styled rooms are designated as dog-friendly and can be equipped with a soft bed, food and water bowls. Rooms even come with a cosy towel coat and dog treats, so your dog won’t feel left out while you’re dining in the hotel’s three AA rosette restaurant. Well-behaved pooches can also accompany you to the Grand Hall and Huntsman Bar – and enjoy wonderful walks in Palé Hall’s expansive woodland gardens, not to mention the spectacular surroundings of lake and mountain.
There’s more amazing walking at the Trefeddian Hotel in Aberdyfi. Perched on a hillside overlooking dunes and sea, it’s a stone’s throw from the seemingly endless, dog-friendly sands of Aberdyfi beach – which provides enough open space to tire out even the most energetic hound. Luckily, the Trefeddian welcomes visitors with sandy paws, allowing dogs to rest and recharge on three of its four floors.
You’ll enjoy it too. This elegant hotel blends old-school charm with stylish contemporary flourishes. Its location overlooking Cardigan Bay is also a big draw, serving up some of the most spectacular seaside sunsets you’ll ever witness.
This is just a snapshot of our dog-friendly holiday options. For more information in places to stay with your pooch take a look at the accommodation section of the Visit Eryri website.
Where to eat
There’s outstanding canine cuisine at Black Rock Beach Club at Morfa Bychan just outside Porthmadog. There’s a full menu of treats, featuring doggie dishes like Bark Burgers and Roast Dinners, plus – would you believe? – Bark Brew Dog Beer and Paw Star Dog Martinis. They’ve also got dessert covered with cooling Scoops ice-creams.
You’re just as well catered for. The chilled-out beach bar serves food throughout the day, from hearty breakfast baps and light lunchtime bites to stone-baked pizzas and a full evening menu of fish, meat and veggie dishes. The location is perfect for long sandy walks along Morfa Bychan and Black Rock Sands, so you and your canine companion will have no problem working up an appetite.
The fresh, funky café bar Y Lloft in Felinheli is also a great stop for a dog-friendly dinner. Sitting at the edge of the Menai Strait with views across the water to Anglesey, well-behaved pooches can enjoy specially made dog ice creams in the ground floor café.
For owners, there’s a tempting menu that blends local ingredients with international culinary influences. Expect dishes like locally caught coley fish with chorizo and butter bean stew or risotto made with Welsh lamb from Llanrug. There’s also an indulgent choice of desserts, like chocolate ganache with blueberry compote and affogato made with Y Lloft’s own signature blend of coffee.
The Golden Fleece Inn in Tremadog welcomes dogs in its beer garden and parts of its bar and restaurant. The pub has picked up plenty of plaudits for its food and hospitality, including gongs from the National Pub & Bar Awards and North Wales Tourism Awards. Drop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner and you’ll find a wide-ranging menu featuring everything from soups and salads to sizzling steaks and stone-baked pizzas.
There’s also an impressive choice of drinks, including an array of more than 70 Welsh gins. Both food and drink can be enjoyed in the atmospheric, cavern-like bar or the lively beer garden – an all-weather outdoor space with heaters and plenty of covered seating.
There are many other places across Eryri that welcome dogs . Check out Caffi Largo in Pwllheli, Proper Gander in Twywn and Davy Jones Locker in Barmouth. You’ll find even more dog-friendly spots to eat on the Visit Eryri website.
What to do
Give your pooch a treat with a trip to Traws Dog Park. Located close to the village of Trawsfynydd, this safe and enclosed playground is the perfect place for off-lead adventures. There’s plenty of space for games of fetch, lots of toys to play with and an obstacle course where dogs can test their traversal skills. While your four-legged friend is enjoying the exercise, you can soak in the extensive Eryri views of the waters of Llyn Trawsfynydd and the rugged contours of the Rhinogydd mountain range rising to the south-west.
Take Rover for a ride on the historic Talyllyn Railway. Dogs (and their owners) can hop aboard the third-class carriage for a trip on the world’s first preserved railway for a trip between Tywyn and Nant Gwernol, a seven-mile/11km journey through some of the prettiest scenery in North Wales.
As you go, you’ll see stunning views of craggy Cader Idris and have the opportunity to hop off and explore at halts along the way. The waterfalls at Dolgoch are a popular spot for a mid-ride walk, while the dog-friendly Quarryman’s Caban café at Abergynolwyn station is ideal for refuelling with some refreshments.
If you’ve been bitten by the heritage railway bug, you can also take dogs on some of the other historic narrow-gauge routes in Eryri – including the Ffestiniog, Llanberis Lake, Bala Lake, Welsh Highland Heritage and Corris railways.
There’s even more ancient history to explore at Cadw sites across the region, many of which are accessible to dogs for some or part of the year. Take your pick from UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Harlech Castle, native built fortresses like Dolbadarn and Castell-y-Bere and dramatic holy remains like Cymer Abbey.
Paws for thought
Dogs are allowed access to walk on the majority of our beaches, though sections of certain beaches have Dog Exclusion Zones to manage their use and keep them clean and safe. For the latest information, please contact one of our Tourist Information Centres.
There are also plenty of places to take your dog for long walks, both in Eryri’s mountains and countryside and on the Wales Coast Path – which stretches for 870 miles/1400km around our entire shoreline. Wherever you go with your dog, make sure you follow the Countryside Code – particularly when walking through working farmland where there may be livestock.