There’s no need to leave your dog at home when you’re visiting the Garden of England. With so many attractions in Kent opening their doors to welcome four-legged friends, a day out for ALL the family is easier than you think! Whether you fancy sniffing out gorgeous gardens, steaming through the countryside with your pet by your side, or taking to the river on a canoe with a canine, we've got plenty of inspiration for days out in Kent to get tails wagging.
For those days when you want to take to the trails, check out our dog-friendly walks and don't forget to share your adventures with us on Twitter and Instagram.
Believe it or not, dogs travel for FREE with their owners on miniature trains across Romney Marsh, so there's no excuse to leave them at home. On those hot summer days, dogs will have the chance to cool off with water bowls provided.
If you're travelling through the High Weald, step back in time for a journey aboard the Spa Valley Railway. Bring along your pooch for the day and they too can enjoy the glorious Wealden countryside and it won't cost them a penny.
Sand, sea and fresh air - what is there for a dog not to like? The glorious sandy beaches of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate welcome dogs, with some restrictions in place between 1st May and 30th September. So be sure to take your pooch to the coast to stretch their legs.
At Dover Castle, dogs on leads can venture behind the battlements for a walk through the grounds of the ancient fortress. Finish off your walk with a drink and water bowl for your partner in crime.
The 250-acres of parkland at Betteshanger Park near Deal are perfect dog walking territory. Bring your dog and the rest of the family for a day out that's bound to encourage smiles and wagging tails.
Set in impressive 125-acre grounds, Hevers Castle's astonishing gardens are perfect to explore with pooches on leads. Visit each season for new sights and scents in the ever-changing grounds.
Both parks offer excellent spots for a walk with your best friend and, with the added bonus of being within walking distance of Royal Tunbridge Wells, you can round off your stroll with a coffee and a treat in the town centre. Royal strolls
While your dog may not quite appreciate that this impressive setting is the finest collections of conifers in the world, they are bound to enjoy the chance to run through the woods along forest trails.
Even four paws will struggle to cover the full 546 acres of this impressive estate! Finish your walk with a circle around the medieval manor house and stop off at the outside seating area of the Mote Cafe for refreshments (both canine and human-friendly).
Pups are welcome on leads in the gardens of this neo-classical house near Faversham. Wander the walled garden and explore the woods and pinetum.
Bring your dog along on the adventure on a canoe trail fit for a canine. Small to medium dogs are welcome aboard Canoe Wild boats, with fresh water and treats available after a paddle with your pooch.
While your dog won't be allowed to roam the orchards (that might be just a little too tempting), they are allowed in the marketplace and are welcome to attend many of the annual festivals, including the Cider and Apple Festivals.
Coastal walks and adventures? That sounds like the perfect doggo's day out to us. Active Ramsgate have shared the many, many businesses in that will welcome your four-legged friends, from restaurants and cafes, to seal spotting boat trips! What's more, with their series of paw-fect walks, ranging in distance from short circulars to long distance, your pup will have plenty to set that tail wagging.
Coastal adventures
While we don’t always share the same interests as our four-legged friends (chasing squirrels…not really our idea of fun), a visit to a gorgeous garden is something you can both enjoy. Reuthe’s in Sevenoaks is pup-friendly, allowing them to sniff out new paths while you enjoy the tranquil woodland. Once you’ve finished your walkies, grab a drink from the Doggy Hut with man’s best friend.
Walkies...
Wine paired with time with our furry friend? We're sold. This spring and summer, Gusbourne's perfectly packed picnics come with a bottle of Gusbourne Brut Reserve and a selection of local artisan produce to enjoy at the very top of the Boot Hill Vineyard, surrounded by those sensational views. Better still, once you've tucked into your picnic head for a wander around the vineyard and an outdoor tasting.
Picture it…the rolling countryside, the wind in your ears (well, your dog’s ears anyway) as it’s all aboard the Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway Tea Room! Discover the age of steam amongst the historic locomotives before settling in for light refreshments before you step aboard your train. Choose from homemade cakes, tea and coffee in the cosy surroundings with the your canine companion.
Yes, really...you can go shopping with your pup! While you shop over 90 paw-some designer brands, your pooch will be welcomed along with you, with treats and a special dog fountain seeing to their every need. Better still the infinitely Instagrammable Living Wall offers the perfect backdrop for a pup's photo opportunity...hands up, whose dog has more followers than they could ever hope to have?
Paw-some shopping
Steeped in history, a manor at its heart, beautifully manicured gardens...now enough of what you're looking for, because Goodnestone Park welcomes your well-behaved pups for a jaunt in the gardens. Better still, the Old Dairy Cafe is a cosy retreat for homemade cakes, cheese scones and coffee shop favourites.
Our friends in the Isle of Thanet are always ready with a coastal doggy day out. From dog friendly beaches and boat trips to the newly opened Crab Museum and Shell Grotto, these ideas are perfect for a relaxed day out the WHOLE family will enjoy.
White Cliffs Country is home to some stunning gardens that also welcome dogs on leads. Visit the Pines Garden at St Margaret’s at Cliffe near Dover and picturesque and peaceful Kearsney Abbey for wonderful outdoor experiences that your happy hound can share. Better still, look out for the new “Dogs Welcome” stickers on display in the windows of businesses across White Cliffs Country, which you’ll begin to notice across the town centres of Dover, Deal and Sandwich over the coming weeks.
We love hopping on the train and heading to Folkestone with our four-legged friend. With sea air to sniff and and incredible artworks along the coast to be found as part of Creative Folkestone Artworks, the UK's largest outdoor exhibition of public art, we reckon it's the paw-fect spot to entertain you and your fur-riend.
Puggy Smalls and his pals barked at the chance to go on a local escape exploring the Kent countryside with Southeastern. Take a peek at their walk and find your local escape #SElocalescapes.
