Scent-sational dogs

To celebrate the season of the senses, the Club has revealed its top dog-friendly sensory spaces, perfect for long walks, leisurely escapades and fun days out with four-legged friends.

Each of these destinations will be sure to engage their senses and help you and your pet to reconnect with nature.

SIGHT

• Cotswold Wildlife Park

A feast of smells and sounds for dogs and humans alike

Dogs sense of sight is different from humans. They have dichromatic vision and don’t see the full spectrum of colours but are great at tracking movement.

Cotswold Wildlife Park is a seriously sensory place for dogs – it’s an actual zoo! There are lots of animals for your canine to have a snoop at, including the White Rhino and Asiatic lion.

The Wildlife Park is dog-friendly, with dogs on leads allowed to explore most of the park.

Perfect for: Alert, visually attentive breeds like Border Collies, Whippets, and Spaniels who enjoy observing movement and action.

Stay at: Chipping Norton Club Site    

• Lakeview Dog Adventure Park

A sensory overload for your dog

The dog park features 15 acres of privately owned land with a large lake. You can book a two-hour play session for your dog, or a private session for yourself and up to five dogs and five people. A perfect setting to let your dog unwind in nature and power up their sense of sight, in safe surroundings.

Perfect for: Energetic, exploratory breeds like Labradors, Vizslas, and Setters who love open spaces and visual stimulation.

Stay at: St Neots Club Site

SMELL

• Railway experience

Enjoy the smell of yester-year aboard the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

For pooches who like to travel in style, why not take the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) from Whitby to Pickering.

Your dog’s nose will be in overdrive with the smell of the steam train in action. The NYMR is dog-friendly and open from March through November each year.

Perfect for: Sociable, curious breeds such as Pugs, Beagles, Bichon Frisés and Golden Retrievers who enjoy mingling and sniffing in novel environments, such as the carriage of a steam train.

Flat faced dog breeds tend to have a lesser sense of smell, but they’ll still enjoy socialising aboard the NYMR.

Stay at: Boroughbridge Club Site 

• Whinlatter Forest

An olfactory delight

Did you know that dogs have nearly 50 times more scent receptors in their nose than humans? Why not treat them to a trip to Whinlatter Forest? From mosses to mushrooms, there’s lots to discover.

Follow the Your Forest Dog Code and keep your dog close and in sight.

Perfect for: Scent-driven breeds like Beagles, Bloodhounds, and Cocker Spaniels who thrive on nose-led adventures.

Stay at: Braithwaite Village Club Site

SOUND

• Leisurely walk at Caen Hill Locks

Canalside strolls

An all-weather option for dogs to enjoy the incredible outdoors with a gentle stretch down (or up!) the flight of 29 locks which have a rise of 237 feet. From the splosh of the fishing rod to the opening of gates, the locks are real treat for the senses.

A visit to the Caen Hill Locks is perfect for dogs, with dog-friendly cafes enroute.

Perfect for: Calm, observant breeds such as Cavaliers, Greyhounds, or senior dogs who prefer relaxed, low-key environments.

Stay at: Devizes Club Site 

• Walk the South West Coast Path

An audiovisual treat

Dogs hear at much higher frequencies that humans, with three times as many muscles in their ears. This helps them to create the amazing shapes we find so endearing, while helping them to hear things we might not even notice.

Give them an audiovisual treat with a trip to the beach. The stretch of the South West Coast Path from Mawgan Porth to Newquay ticks off Watergate Bay, which is dog-friendly and welcomes dogs all year round.

Perfect for: Sound-aware, inquisitive breeds like Shelties, German Shepherds and Terriers who enjoy the rhythmic sounds of waves and coastal breezes.

Stay at: Tregurrian Club Site 

• Arboretum visit

Leafy delight

Howick Hall Arboretum lies just inland on the Northumberland Coast and spans 65 hectares and features 11,000 trees.

Once you’ve finished completing a circuit or two of the arboretum, and dropping in at the on-site Earl Grey Tea House, the Northumberland coast boasts lots of dog-friendly beaches. Bamburgh is especially popular and welcomes dogs year-round, with no seasonal restrictions.

Perfect for: Dachsunds and Schnauzers, who are naturally curious and driven by scent.

Stay at: Dunstan Hill Club Site

TASTE

• Paws in the Park, Pawfest

A treat-tastic weekend in Kent

Did you know that dogs have approximately 1,700 taste buds, which are at the back of their mouths?

We all know that our dogs enjoy their grub and have an insatiable appetite – whether that’s after a day out walking or a day lazing by the fire, it doesn’t bother them.

Check out one of the great dog events taking place up and down the UK and treat your four-legged friend to the ultimate shopping experience.

Visit one of the trade stands to find treats your dogs will love. If you think your dog is best in show you can even enter them for a dog competition!

Perfect for: Food-motivated breeds like Labradors, French Bulldogs and Cavaliers who are always on the lookout for their next tasty treat.

Stay at: Canterbury Club Site

TOUCH

• Walking in the Highlands

Wet your whiskers on a moody walk

Dogs have millions of nerve endings and the parts of their bodies most sensitive to touch include their whiskers, paws and noses. Send them into sensory overload with a trip to the Highlands and a walk along the Caledonian Canal.

Let them feel the mist on their whiskers and drizzle on their paws and help them reconnect with nature.

Perfect for: Hardy, outdoorsy breeds like Huskies, Collies, and Terriers who thrive in rugged, wild landscapes.

Stay at: Rosemarkie Club Site 

• Unleashed at Wrenbury Hall Woods

Reconnect with nature.

Dogs have huge numbers of nerve endings in their ears and on their paws, making them perfect spots for tickling.

For dogs who enjoy the cool feeling of fresh water and on their skin, why not book an experience at Wrenbury Hall Woods, which offers group socialisation sessions and private hire sessions, or even ‘doga’ – dog yoga – for dogs who want to find their inner zen.

Perfect for: Gentle, tactile-loving breeds like Shih Tzus, Poodles, and rescue dogs who thrive on calm human connection and sensory touch.

Stay at: Delamere Forest Club Site 

• River Severn swim session

Paw-fect for some doggy hydrotherapy

Some dogs love water more than others. Take a trip to The River Severn at Quarry Park, Shrewsbury, which features an idyllic riverside location and gentle currents.

Perfect for: Water-loving breeds like Newfoundlands, Portuguese Water Dogs, and Retrievers who can’t resist a swim.

Stay at: Blackmore Club Site

Club’s expert advice to help your dog enjoy autumn safely

Just remember, as an owner it’s your job to consider the needs of your dog as you know them best of all, plus the limit of their abilities and what they’re comfortable doing. Use our list of top sensory spaces as a guide on where you can take them for some seasonal fun, based on their breed and profile.

If you can’t venture too far into the incredible outdoors, a trip out near where you live still benefits your dog. Breeds such as retrievers will enjoy agricultural areas where you have space to throw a tennis ball, while gundogs and sporting dogs will enjoy wooded areas which stimulate their natural tendencies to sniff things out. 

 What autumn plants are toxic to dogs?  

• The nuts of both of our most-loved autumn deciduous trees can cause problems such as gut blockages if eaten by your dog – acorns (oak) and horse chestnut (conkers) can lead to digestive issues.

• Most mushrooms will not pose any problems if consumed, but some wild mushrooms can be dangerous. If in doubt, or you’re not confident in your dog’s ability to resist temptation, keep them on a short lead while walking in wooded areas.

• Around the house there are some common household items you should watch out for too - antifreeze is highly toxic to dogs so keep it out of the boot of your car and always lock it safely away.

• Ivy and bracken fern grow in autumn are also toxic to dogs.