It’s easy to assume that a dog-friendly holiday should take place in the countryside, but there are plenty of city breaks that can offer you and your dog a great trip away.
Scotland’s cities tend to be full of parkland, and nearby to some beautiful spots for a walk with your canine; Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen are all home to some beautiful beaches to explore. The largest city in Scotland, though, can also be the best place for a dog-friendly holiday – so take a look at what Glasgow has to offer you and your pet.
Things to see
Glasgow translates as ‘Dear Green Place’ (from the original Cumbric, not Gaelic), and the city is one of the greenest in the UK. That means that there are lots of great spaces for you to explore with your pet, and that lots of the city’s best attractions aren’t closed off to you just because you want to bring your best friend with you.
Glasgow Green_0857 (Photo credit: StressedTechnician)
Glasgow Green is probably most famous, and by some way the most elderly, of these parks. It has been at the heart of Glasgow for over half a century, and home to many different activities in that period. Nowadays, the park is home to Glasgow’s famous Doulton Fountain and Nelson’s Monument (the first civic monument to Nelson’s victories in the Napoleonic Wars in the whole of the UK), two of the finest tourist attractions in the city. More architecture from before Glasgow’s rise to industrial prominence can be found nearby in the McLennan Arch, one of the entrances to Glasgow Green.
Alternatively, Kelvingrove Park, Bellahouston Park and Alexandra Park are all stunning and well worth a visit. Kelvingrove Park is home to Glasgow’s famous Botanical Gardens.
Much of Scotland’s industrial history is centred on the River Clyde, and exploring the area with your pet is a great way of spending your time in Glasgow. The Queen’s Dock and Yorkhill Quay are home to a lot of industrial architecture in the city, including the North Rotunda, Finnieston Crane and The Tall Ship; which can all be taken in on a walk along the shores of the river.
If you want to experience Scotland with a group of like-minded pet owners, Glasgow is home to several dog-walking meet ups who take in the city itself or arrange trips up into the countryside. There’s a lot of beautiful countryside surrounding Glasgow, with the Loch Lomond (Scotland’s biggest Loch) and Trossachs National Park just over half an hour’s drive from the city.
Of course, tasting the local beers and whiskies is a key part of any trip to Scotland. Glasgow is home to several dog friendly pubs and bars for just such a pursuit, to suit every drinker. Dugs n’ Pubs lists over 30 such establishments, including the Brew Dog bar: home to Scotland’s famous Brew Dog Beers and the strongest brewed beer in the world (for even more locally brewed beer, the WEST brewery is also dog-friendly). And for something more traditional, The Belle on Ruskin Place is also open to canines.
Where to stay in Glasgow
Merchant City, Glasgow (Photo credit: firepile)
If you’re looking to stay in catered accommodation that’s close to the city centre, there are a variety of dog friendly hotels dotted throughout the city. The Brunswick Hotel is located directly in the heart of Merchant City, making it convenient for all of Glasgow’s attractions and great for a quick shopping trip. Of course, you’ll need to notify the hotel of your dog’s arrival well before your intended holiday.
Alternatively, you could opt to look for accommodation in a private flat for your stay – just check with the landlord that dogs are allowed as part of the agreement and you’re all set. With a lot more room to play around in and no other guests to potentially get in the way, a flat can be a surprisingly inexpensive base for your adventure in a new city. With its abundance of tenement apartments, there is a good selection of such property available in Glasgow.
Bio: Patrick Foot writes about lettings and property for Lettingweb.com, covering everything from moving tips to tenancy disputes to generating yields. He’s been a professional writer for several years, and now writes under his role as Lettingweb’s Marketing Manager as well as for various publications as a freelancer in his spare time.
