Dog walks in Yorkshire – The tails of Dylan

My top five watering holes

June 16, 2018 thetailsofdylan

You’ll know by now that my favourite pastime is swimming and that I’m OBSESSED with water – BOW WOW WOW! So, I thought I’d share my top five watering holes with my fellow furry friends.

1. Wetherby, North Yorkshire

This is the elite of the local outdoor pawools that I’ve wet my nose in. A popular dog walking spot, it has two pawsome points to swim in the River Wharfe – Wetherby Ings and Kings George’s Field. On one visit to the river I saw what looked like a seal …WOOF! WOOF! Grrrr… understandably I started barking I hadn’t see something like this before. It turned out to be a hooman in a wet suit – yep my thoughts too – BARKING!

2. Burnsall, North Yorkshire

Wharfedale is WOOFTASTIC – after all its home to the River Wharfe. We took an adventure along the river to the stepping stones near the suspension bridge at Hebden. On the trail there are several points to dip your paw in and usually a few canine friendlies to run around with.

I’ve also swam near the five-arched stone bridge in the heart of Burnsall enjoying hours of fun paddling after the ducks…my pawrents call it my ‘Fenton in Richmond Park moment’(worth a google if you haven’t seen this) but I don’t know what they are BARKING about – I was just having a gentle swim!!! (smiling dog teeth face) #fentonismyhero #naughtydoggy

3. Knaresborough, North Yorkshire

The River Nidd heading towards Nidd Gorge towards the end of Conyngham Hall long stay car park is the PAWFECT doggy paddle pool. SPLASH…PADDLE…DUNK…SHAKE…REPEAT. I never want to leave…throw me the ball again!

4. Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Hidden behind the Yorkshire Show Ground in Crimple Valley is the River Cimple or Crimple Beck and it’s PAWSOME for a doggy dip. Many canine friends agree as it’s a popular spot for a splash and a paddle.

5. Blanchland, Northumberland

I don’t get here often but it doesn’t mean that Blanchland shouldn’t make the top five places where I like to swim, paddle and play. Great adventures have been had here – there is nothing like a DOGGY dip in the Derwent.

Where do you go for your doggy dips? Are there places I need to visit? Share your favourite watering hole below.

Dylan

Dog walks in Yorkshire

Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire Moors National Park

June 7, 2018 thetailsofdylan

This place is BARKING! It’s 8000 acres of wooftastic woods! Filled with lots of humans walking, cycling and playing with their canine family members – it’s just bow wow WOW! No wonder it’s called ‘The Great Yorkshire Forest’.

After a couple of hours car journey, our road trip took us into the fun filled forest – the home to Go Ape (where humans monkey around and hang from trees!). I told you this place is barking!

Oh what’s all this then? There are people hanging from trees out there!!!

The smell of BBQ’s and tasty treats from various picnics is tempting but I remained on my best behavior! Well at least I was when it came to food – but I did try to steal a ball from a possessive Staffy. This was not such a great idea! Luckily our pawrents got to us before I got to the ball! I think he may have played a bit RUFF for me being a big softy. Would serve me right for trying to steal his ball!!

Extreme – I’m not sure i’m qualified for this run!

We swiftly took one of the 12 trails – the Adderstone Rigg Walk. Wandering deep into the woods, even deeper once I saw a rabbit! Unfortunately, it outsmarted me. As I ran off the path down the hill into the woods the rabbit did a sneaky U-turn and ran across the path up into the opposite woods! After ten minutes of circling the scent I was beat (pant, pant, pant…)!

Luckily, I wasn’t near a cycle track whilst chasing the rabbit – those humans on bikes can cover ground quickly. I even saw one dog trailing the family. They looked like a pack of hounds chasing each other through the woods. It looked WOOFTASTIC! I’m thinking of becoming a mountain bike dog myself! Training with papa begins soon …

The only caution with this walk is there are lots of people on bikes but if you can avoid them and not fall under a wheel its PAWSOME! With the exception of the bikes I’d grade it a number 1 walk from my guide below.

Happy walking…..

(waggy waggy)

Dylan

Dog walks in Yorkshire

Kirkby Overblow to Sicklinghall, North Yorkshire

April 29, 2018April 29, 2018 thetailsofdylan

I’m in dog roaming heaven, weaving my way through a magical bridleway, lined by stone dike walls and big rustling trees. We pass an old Yorkshire farmhouse where the path is followed by a parallel stream – I just LOVE a bit of water.

We carry on through a gate into a large plain where I get a sniff of a rabbit, and a whiff of pheasant – its all too STIMULATING for my senses – no dried kibble in sight! I begin to run, tracking my prey, following a scent trailing though the long grass, then SUDDENLY a pheasant takes off in front of me…I LEAP to catch it but my butt is too heavy to fly!!! I go in for the chase but its over before it began, the pheasants taken OFF and it’s out of here!

As I emerge from the grass I see some sheep and they have lambs too – I’m excited!! But I know the drill, lambing season means I’m back on the lead. Attempting my best behavior as I don’t want to scare anyone. I’m a friendly sort. A little bit too friendly for sheep so my pawrents say – I intimidate them with my extremely waggy tail and my passion to bounce a bit like Tigger from Winne the Pooh, and Tigger ‘likes to bounce’. They can’t understand I just want to play.

Dog walks — hello horses – are those fly masks keeping the flies at bay?

Past some woods we meet some friendly horses in a field before turning down a track leading onto the main road into Sicklinghall. At the end of the walk there is a charming 17th century watering hole, The Scotts Arms. And yes, dogs can drink here too. I asked my pawrents for a pint but apparently I’m underage!! Off to the dog watering bowl I go.

After catching a few rays in the beer garden and topping up the vitamin D we take the same route back to Kirkby Overblow. With an array of Yorkshire stone-built houses, a village green and a parish church – these picture postcard villages are delight, to wonder through.

Much to my overwhelming delight, there are several small streams on the route and many of them allow for us dogs to get really really muddy!!! I’d recommend saving the mud bath for the way home!

Happy walking!

Dylan

Dog walks in Yorkshire

Harewood Estate, Harewood, North Yorkshire

January 7, 2018March 13, 2018 thetailsofdylan

Take a walk along Church Lane at Harewood and you’ll find yourself wondering into the grounds of Harewood House, one of Yorkshire’s finest stately homes. Built in the 18^th century it’s meant to house an art collection that rivals the finest in Britain. Well, this is what I overheard my pawrents discussing and when they’d next visit. We didn’t venture into the house but we did walk around some of estates 700 acres. It includes 100 acres of gardens. Can you believe it? If only my own garden was a fraction of that size. Check out more on their website www.harewood.org

Harewood

On our walk around the estate we passed a herd of deer, such beautiful creatures. I was outnumbered significantly so I politely watched them play from afar rather than joining in on a game of tig (aka tag).

We ventured on down the hill through the woods passing lots of other furry and non-furry friends and their siblings. It was very interesting to see other families out and about. Some young ones were learning to ride their bikes.

A word of warning there are some grids. Apparently these are to stop cattle roaming out of the grounds. Be warned that these are not easy to jump. My advise is to listen to your pawrents who recommend to follow them through the gates at the side of the cattle grids that way you don’t get hurt or stuck right in the middle. Although it mostly bruises your pride!

Harewood 2

A very scenic walk but it’s not exactly roaming heaven. It’s more of an on the lead walk – see my dog walking guide below. There was a small amount of private traffic on the ground, and lots of families as well as other dogs both on and off leads. Most did not venture far from their masters side. I haven’t learnt that skill just yet!

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Dylan

Dog walks in Yorkshire

Ripley Castle, Ripley, North Yorkshire

January 4, 2018April 19, 2018 thetailsofdylan

Ripley is a wonderful historic little village on the outskirts of Harrogate, home to the picturesque Ripley Castle – a 14^th century country house. The village of Ripley boasts a famous ice cream store, as well Chantry House Gallery with a reputation for being one of the most interesting and affordable art galleries in North Yorkshire. Unfortunately I didn’t get to visit either, or take a guided tour of the castle but I did visit it’s website to see what I might be missing www.ripleycastle.co.uk

Instead I wondered down Hollybank Lane into the grounds behind the castle. A pathway that leads onto a number of walks taking you to Bedlam, Clint Bank, Hampswaite & Burt Yates.

On route I was very tempted to take a plunge in the Castle pool but it turns out it’s a feature waterfall and not a swimming area for dogs!

It’s a thoroughly enjoyable walk; quite busy at times on the main pathway, other dogs taking out their pawrents and hooman siblings.

It’s well worth a visit. I’d class this as a popular dog walking area – see my dog walking guide below.

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve been on this walk and hear which path you took?

Dylan