International dog day 2026

International Dog Day 2026 🐾

There’s nothing quite like the joy a dog brings to everyday life. Whether they’re encouraging us out for an early-morning walk, joining us on a weekend adventure, bounding across the beach or simply curling up beside us at the end of the day, our four-legged friends have a wonderful way of becoming part of the family.

International Dog Day, celebrated on 26 August, is the perfect opportunity to celebrate dogs of all shapes, sizes, breeds and personalities – from energetic puppies and seasoned explorers to rescue dogs, working dogs and those who would much rather snooze on the sofa!

It’s also a great excuse to get out and enjoy some quality time together. We’re lucky to have so many fantastic places to explore with our canine companions, whether you’re looking for a beautiful local walk, a spacious park for a good run around, a dog-friendly beach, a memorable day out or somewhere welcoming to stop for a drink or bite to eat afterwards.

So, to mark International Dog Day 2026, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite dog-friendly places and ideas for adventures with your pup. We’ll be sharing brilliant walks, beaches and parks, alongside days out and welcoming local spots where dogs can join in the fun too.

Our teams favourite walks

Allen Banks & Morralee Tarn Walk – Bardon Mill
2.5 miles | Moderate | Dog friendly
A beautiful woodland walk through National Trust – Allen Banks and Staward Gorge, following paths through ancient woodland and alongside the River Allen before climbing towards Morralee Tarn. Expect plenty of trees, wildlife and muddy paws! Dogs are welcome but should be kept on leads, particularly around livestock.

Corbridge Riverside Walks – Corbridge
Around 1–2 miles | Easy | Dog friendly
Perfect for a gentler outing, the riverside paths at Corbridge give you lovely views along the River Tyne without anything too strenuous. Visit Northumberland suggests both a flat 2km riverside trail and a slightly longer 3.2km loop towards Dilston, so it’s easy to tailor the walk to how energetic everyone is feeling.

Hareshaw Linn Walk – Bellingham
3 miles | Moderate | Dog friendly
This one has everything Bramble could ask for: woodland, streams, six bridges and an impressive waterfall at the end. Hareshaw Linn Walk follows Hareshaw Burn through ancient woodland to the nine-metre-high Hareshaw Linn waterfall. It’s also a great spot for wildlife, including red squirrels, woodpeckers and dippers.

Housesteads to Steel Rigg Circular Walk – Hadrian’s Wall
8 miles | Moderate | Dog friendly on leads
One for a bigger adventure. This spectacular route follows some of the most dramatic stretches of Hadrian’s Wall, with huge Northumberland views, Roman archaeology and plenty of ups and downs. It’s an 8-mile circular route with some steep and potentially muddy sections, so walking boots are a good idea. Dogs need to stay on leads because the route crosses grazing land.

Lake district

Staff pet Bramble, like most spaniels, absolutely loves the water! So, obviously, the Lake District is pretty much his idea of the perfect day out.

With endless trails to explore, plenty of new smells to investigate and, most importantly, lots of opportunities for a paddle and a splash, there’s nothing quite like a long walk surrounded by the beautiful Lake District scenery, especially when you’ve got a four-legged adventure buddy leading the way.

Northumberland coast 

Druridge Bay – distance as long or short as you like
For a proper beach walk, Druridge Bay is hard to beat. There are miles of sweeping sand backed by dunes, so it’s ideal for stretching the legs and particularly good for a water-loving spaniel. You can incorporate sections of the coast path and the area around Druridge Pools. Staff pet Poppy is coming up 14 years old but still enjoys a run along the huge beach!

Northumberland Coast Path information