Looking in from the outside, it might well appear that us Brits have a few core interests in common...our relationship with the pub being one, of course, not to mention fish and chips, our obsession with tea and talking about the weather...OK, let's get all the stereotypes out in the open, shall we?
You'd be forgiven for thinking, sometimes, as you cast your eyes over a park, a beach, a hillside, that it's a nationally enforced regulation for every family to own a dog, or two, or a pack... Now, I have got two dogs, myself, so please don't read these words thinking, "Uh-oh, dog hater alert." Really, I love the two messy, greedy and often flatulent labradors that I have chosen to spend a considerable portion of my life with. I do appreciate, however, that not everyone out there enjoys my dogs as much as I do... not everyone enjoys the body-search sniff, the sonic-boom bark, the slobbery residue and the unavoidable excretion. And that's got to be fair enough. So, although a considerable proportion of campsites across the UK are bending over backwards to make their canine visitors as welcome as their human guests (check out our earlier blog Are these the UK's Most Dog Friendly Campsites? to see just how comfortable our canine counterparts can expect to be whilst camping...) there are still some very good campsites out there who don't allow dogs... great news for those of us who would rather camp dog free.
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Dog Free Site in Cornwall
If you are looking for a back-to-nature site for your kids to roam and explore without fear of bumping nose to nose with a dog, then head to Pleasant Streams Farm Camping near St Austell in Cornwall.
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The owners of this site have designated it a pet-free site in order to protect the local wildlife, which is abundant. The site is a mecca for nature lovers, steeped as it is in the glorious Cornish countryside.
This is a very relaxed campsite with plenty of space for you to pitch where you like. Pleasant Streams is a self-confessed quiet site arranged around a central lake; don’t stay here if you want all-singing-all-dancing facilities. There aren’t many campsites, though, that provide a rowing boat for you to take a leisurely float about on the lake!
The site is less than 3 miles from the Lost Gardens of Heligan and only 3 miles from the sandy beaches and coastal path walking at Pentewan and beyond.
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Pleasant Streams Farm, Cornwall
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Dog free campsite in West Wales
For a dog-free and kid-free site in Wales, book into Faerie-Thyme Camping steeped in the gloriously tranquil countryside of West Wales.
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The campsite is situated closeby Wales’ oldest market town, Carmarthen, set in legend and folklore as the birthplace of Merlin.
This is a small, intimate site, providing a surprisingly ‘private’ camping experience, afforded by the hazel and shrub borders to each pitch. There are a variety of pitches to choose from, some with covered fire-pits so you can toast your marshmallows even in more inclement weather and others more 'woodland' pitches in amongst the trees. Being surrounded by neighbouring working farms, the owners have decided to keep the site pet-free.
A short walk from Faerie-Thyme, pick up a footpath which will take you over Mynydd Llangyndeyrn with its collection of Neolithic and Bronze age monuments.
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Faerie-thyme Camping, Carmarthenshire.
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Dog free campsite site in North Yorkshire
Make a stop at Champs Field
near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire for a laid-back stay on a friendly dog-free campsite.
The site boasts a communal central firepit, great for getting together with other campers and tourers, although keeping yourself to yourself is fine too!
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Foodies will be interested to know that Champs Field is set on a working beef farm and sells its home-grown meat from the campsite shop…you’re unlikely to manage a BBQ with fewer food miles anywhere else!
Not that we’re obsessed with food and eating, but guests at Champs Field often take the pleasant five minute stroll to the fabulous village pub, Ye Old Sun Inn, the proprietors of which won the title of Landlord and Landlady of the year in 2014.
Of course, although you'll be enjoying peace and tranquility during your camping adventure at Champs Field, the proximity of the site to York and all of the city's attractions is a huge bonus - there's a bus running from nearby Colton village throughout the day.
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Champs Field, North Yorkshire
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No dogs on this Dorset Campsite
If you’re looking for a dog-free campsite with plenty to do to keep the family happy, then a stay in the New Forest at Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Activity Centre offers plenty of options.
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This is a popular site but it is large, so tent campers and those in motorhomes with no need of electricity can choose where to pitch up. If you need an electric hook-up, the site does have hook-ups available but the number is limited to 10 units; booking ahead is therefore advisable.
With all manner of drop in activities ideal for active kids running throughout the camping season, there’s no time for getting bored: bushcraft, climbing, shelter building, fishing, archery and abseiling will give you a flavour of what to expect. With the site being slap-bang at the heart of the New Forest, packing your bikes is a great idea so that you can take advantage of the trails both on the site itself and out into the surrounding National Park.
For active kids who prefer not to mix with dogs, this site is a real find.
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Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Activity Centre, Dorset
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Dog free camping in Fife
Those looking for a pet-free touring experience north of the border should take a look at Craigtoun Meadows Holiday Park.
This site really is set up for a care-free motorhome or caravan holiday, with 54 impressive touring pitches all with electric hookup and access to some impressive amenities and on-site facilities.
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Although there are some privately owned static caravans on site and the owners of these are allowed to have dogs holiday with them, these areas are separate from the touring areas of Craigtoun, so you can be assured of no yipping in the early morning or yapping during the night!
Craigtoun is ideal for exploring the history and culture of beautiful St Andrews. You don’t have to be obsessed with golf to be impressed by St Andrews (although it helps if you are!) Visit the local distillery and brewery, dive in at St Andrews Aquarium, even discover until recently one of Scotland’s best kept secrets: a cold war underground secret bunker from where Scotland would have been governed in a state of emergency.
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Craigtoun Meadows Holiday Park, Fife
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Campsite Chatter has extensive listings of dog free campsites in the UK. To run a search for campsites with no dogs in a particular region of the UK, go to our Find a Campsite page, enter the type of pitch you are looking for (tent, caravan, motorhome etc) and check checking 'No Dogs Allowed' in the required facilities fields. Next enter either a postcode and radius or click on a county on the blue map. Tada!
By Bekah Mardall, Campsite Chatter.
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