Revealed: South triumphs over North as top English region for dog-friendly hiking holidays

Revealed: South triumphs over North as top English region for dog-friendly hiking holidays

[First Place: South West Coast Path]

• Search interest in UK staycations has risen by 41% over the past year, while ‘dog-friendly travel’ has seen a 16% rise.
• A brand-new ‘Dog-Friendly Hiking Holiday Index’ from Agria Pet Insurance ranks England’s most popular hiking routes for the perfect walks with your beloved pets.
• The South West Coast Path takes the top spot, followed by the King Charles III England South East Coast Path.

18 August 2025: The South West has been named England’s best region for dog-friendly travel in the inaugural Agria Dog-Friendly Hiking Holiday Index, with the iconic South West Coast Path crowned as the winning trail.

The famous hiking route along the Devon and Cornwall coast cinched the top spot thanks to its perfect combination of spectacular coastal views, seasonal versatility, and lack of access restrictions for dog walkers.

[L-R: Second Place - King Charles III England South East Coast Path / Third Place - Offa’s Dyke Path]

In fact, coastal paths prove the best walking spots where dogs are welcome, with a grand total of four making the top 10 – two of which are in the top three. The rest of the list is taken up with beloved National Park moorland and countryside trails, with one river path making an appearance.

The index reveals a clear North-South divide when it comes to pet-friendly beauty spots – while there's a 50-50 split in northern and southern routes in the top 10, the top three are all in the South of England. Despite the South’s dominance, Yorkshire is the only county with three routes featured in the top ten.

Created by Agria Pet Insurance – one of the world’s leading animal insurers – the index makes it easier than ever to plan an active staycation for all the family, including four-legged friends.

The index follows a spike in UK Google search interest for dog-friendly travel. In fact, over the past six months there has been a 56.7% increase in search interest for hiking routes, while interest in UK staycations rose by 41% over the past year. People are keen to bring along their pets – over the last year, ‘best dog walks’ has seen increased search interest of 18%, while ‘dog-friendly travel’ has seen a 16% rise.

The Top 10

Vicki Wentworth, Managing Director at Agria Pet Insurance, commented:  

“Pet owners are clearly interested in dog-friendly staycations for this summer and beyond. At Agria, we’re all about taking pets away with you so they can share in the memory making. After all, they’re a part of the family.

“We want to help holidaymakers and their dogs add a little adventure and excitement to their summer walks and hiking holidays, while also feeling confident that the destination and activities they choose are suitable for their dogs’ needs.

“England is incredibly fortunate to boast so many scenic spots. Whether it’s steering clear of crowds or dodging seasonal dog bans, our new Dog-Friendly Hiking Holiday Index makes it easy to select a destination that works for all the family – including your furry friend.”

The Dog-Friendly Hiking Holiday Index considers both fun and functional factors that make a hiking trail perfect for people and their pups. 18 long-distance routes in England were measured against a range of metrics, including seasonal bans and leash restrictions, difficulty and variety of terrain, and attractions along the route. 

When walking your dogs near cliffs, always prioritise your dog’s safety by keeping them on a short lead, and stay away from the edge. It’s important to stay aware of your surroundings, weather conditions, and any potential hazards such as unstable cliffs and falling rocks.

ENDS

Media Enquiries:

Contact the GOLD79 team at agria@gold79.co.uk

Notes:

More info about the top 3 walks in the Dog-Friendly Hiking Holiday Index 2025

1st Place: The South West Coast Path

South West, Somerset to Dorset

Beginning at Minehead, Somerset, and ending at Poole Harbour, Dorset, the South West Coast Path boasts 630 miles of stunning English coastline, traversing four AONBs. The route is easily split into multiple shorter sections, and is suitable for experienced trekkers, relaxed ramblers, and now, dog owners too. Some areas of the South West Coast Path permit off-leash walking, and there are no seasonal dog access bans to be aware of, so you can experience the varied scenery all year round. It also benefits from excellent parking access and dog-friendly public transport connections.

2nd Place: King Charles III England South East Coast Path

South East Coast, Sussex to Kent

Explore coastal towns with long sandy beaches, Ancient Roman sites, Napoleonic Martello towers, the White Cliffs of Dover and wartime remains on this route from Shoreham-by-Sea to Saltdean, Brighton. The King Charles III England South East Coast Path has something for all the family – Dover Castle for history buffs, saltmarsh and mudflats for budding bird watchers, and plenty of chances to spot ships from Folkestone Harbour to South Foreland Lighthouse. The trail is of average difficulty and provides access to two National Parks and three AONBs. Some sections place seasonal dog bans, but outside of these periods, dogs and their owners have access to all areas, though only certain parts of the trail permit off-leash walking. The area benefits from excellent parking provision and dog-friendly public transport connections.

3rd Place: Offa’s Dyke Path

English-Welsh border, Gloucestershire to Denbighshire

This 177-mile walking trail is named after the spectacular Offa’s Dyke – a massive linear defensive earthwork constructed in the 8th century – which it often follows. The full route links Sedbury Cliffs near Chepstow to the coastal town of Prestatyn on the shores of the Irish Sea, but can be easily split into smaller sections for a less daunting challenge. There are plenty of locations to park along the trail, as well as dog-friendly public transport access. Offa’s Dyke Path crosses the English-Welsh border over 20 times, passing through eight different counties on its way. It is suitable for confident, fit walkers and mobile, energetic dogs. Those who take on the challenge are rewarded with views of three AONBs – The Wye Valley, the Shropshire Hills and the Clwydian Range.

There are no seasonal bans or access restrictions on dogs, and spring and summer offer the best opportunities to see the region’s flora in bloom. However, you must adhere to leashed walking rules in protected areas to safeguard local wildlife.

Methodology

Each route was scored based on the following factors. Where quantity metrics are concerned, we used online route planners and tools to identify the volume of each measure along the route. Where quality metrics are concerned, we used the consensus of the terrain in the public domain. 

About Agria

Agria is one of the world’s leading animal insurers, specialising in small animal and equine insurance. Founded in Sweden over 130 years ago, Agria began underwriting policies in the UK in 2009 and is now a prominent part of the UK animal insurance sector.  Agria is the only provider of lifetime equine insurance in the UK and has been protecting horses here since 2022.

In the UK, Agria works with over 60,000 vets, breeders and rehoming organisations, delivering a welfare-led approach to specialist, lifetime insurance. Agria also administers pet insurance schemes for the leading small animal registration bodies, The Kennel Club, and the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), and protects assistance dogs as they go about their day-to-day duties.

Agria's Lifetime Premium Cat & Dog policies are the Which? 2024 highest scoring Pet Insurance Best Buys, and in July 2025 Agria achieved a perfect score of 100/100 to lead the GOOD Shopping Guide's Ethical Pet Insurance Table.

For more information, see www.agriapet.co.uk / www.kcinsurance.co.uk / www.gccfinsurance.co.uk / https://www.instagram.com/agriapetinsurance / https://www.facebook.com/agriapetuk