As we step into May with a spring in our step, it's time to look back on our April feature for the 'Dog Friendly UK' Calendar, Northumberland. It's an area of the country that we've always wanted to go to as we've heard it's super dog friendly so we couldn't wait to discover everything it had to offer...
It was a long journey up to the northernmost county in England so when we finally arrived it was dinner time. We were staying at The Commissioners Quay Inn which is located right on Blyth's historic quay area.
It's a contemporary pub with accommodation and is perfectly located right along the coast as well as nearby to lots of wonderful places to explore.
After checking into our hotel room, we headed downstairs for something to eat. Dogs are allowed in parts of the bar area and are welcomed with treats from the staff. They are also allowed to join you there for breakfast in the morning.
There is a wide range of choices on the menu from typical pub grub to some more unusual items. We opted for a Traditional Turkish Kebab which also had a vegetarian option available. Both kebabs came served with pitta bread, house slaw, salad and a wide array of dips...
In addition to the food menu, there's a great choice of drinks for everyone. From classic cocktails and gins to craft beer and real ales - there's even mocktails for the kids or designated drivers (though you can always opt to stay overnight instead!)
After enjoying our meal and a drink or two, we retired to the bedroom for some much-needed rest. We had a big day of exploring Northumberland ahead of us...
Our hotel room had a stunning sea view of the Port of Blyth which was a lovely sight to wake up to in the morning. It was also well-equipped with a Freeview TV, Wi-Fi and a double sofa so we were able to chill out in the morning with a cup of coffee and watch some TV before heading downstairs for breakfast.
Once again, the breakfast menu had a wide variety of things to choose from. This included a Full Northumbrian breakfast, continental options, American Pancakes and even a local classic - the Stottie.
After enjoying our Full English breakfast, we retreated back to the hotel room to freshen up and get ready for our first adventure of the day. Wilbur & Paisley couldn't wait to get out and explore everything that Northumberland had to offer...
First up, we were heading to the beach! The nearest being Blyth which is just a twenty minute walk from the hotel. It's a long stretch of golden sand - perfect for the pups to have a good run around on. We went out of peak season so there weren't any restrictions on dogs being on the beach at the time but there are certain areas they are not allowed on during the summer. You can check out the restrictions here.
Wilbur & Paisley loved it! With so much lovely sand to stretch their legs on, the sea to splash in and their favourite balls to chase - they quite literally had a ball!
After officially tiring them out, we headed back towards the hotel. To get there, you have to walk through a lovely little park. As the sun was out, there were lots of families there joining in with activities and eating picnics as well as lots of dogs enjoying a game of fetch. With tennis courts, a bowling green, woodland walks and a water play area - there's something for all the family to enjoy at Ridley Park. There's also a dog friendly café directly on it called Mister Ridley's Ice & Coffee Parlour.
Don't let the name fool you, this delightful little coffee shop serves all manner of things including homemade cakes, ice cream, sandwiches and hot food too.
It has a regularly changing menu with a huge range of choices from burgers and quiches, to traditional Spanish hotpots and afternoon teas. They also have specials nights and serve a traditional roast on Sundays!
The café was bustling inside and it's easy to see why - the food was all home-cooked, made to order and delicious.
If you just fancy grabbing an ice cream while you're walking the dog or want to soak up the sun then there is also an ice cream window for you to order from as well as some seating outside.
After enjoying our tasty food and the dogs munching on a treat or two, we headed back to the hotel to our car. The park and café are just a five minute walk away from the hotel so it really is in the ideal spot for dog owners!
We were now off to our last stop before home. Just a 15 minute drive away, we were heading to visit the Lady of the North...
If you haven't heard of it, the Lady of the North is a landform sculpture of a reclining lady. It's set in Northumberlandia and is made of 1.5 million tonnes of rock, clay and soil and is 100 feet high. Dogs are more than welcome to visit but they must be kept on a lead at all times.
There are lots of footpaths for you to choose from with varying levels of difficulty. We climbed up to the top and the views were spectacular...
There are smaller hills for you to climb up if you have a young or elderly dog and there's also lots of other different areas to explore around the park, such as woodlands. If you don't fancy climbing then the scenery from the bottom is pretty spectacular too...
Once you've finished exploring the grounds, there's a café near the entrance that serves drinks and a bite to eat. On a cold day, you can opt for a warming homemade soup or a delicious toastie. If you're lucky with the weather then why not treat yourself to an ice cream? After all that walking, you deserve it!
Sadly, it was now time for us to say goodbye. We had a great time exploring Northumberland and it was definitely as dog friendly as we'd hoped...
We hope you enjoyed reading our blog all about our Dog Friendly trip to Northumberland. Thanks to Northumberlandia, The Commissioners Quay Inn and Mister Ridley's Ice & Coffee Parlour for our visit. We loved it!
If you visit any of our recommendations then please do share your photos with us on Facebook, we love seeing them. Our 'Dog Friendly UK' Calendar 2019 is still available to purchase here if you haven't got your paws on a copy yet.
We'll be back next month with a blog all about our Dog Friendly trip to North Yorkshire!
Until then...
Love, nose licks & waggy tails,
From the WildPaws team x