Pooch Perfect Rail Adventures
23rd August 2023
- To celebrate International Dog Day, we look at the pawfect places to travel with your pooch by train
- National Rail allows up to two pets to travel on any journey for free
- To save on trips alongside doggy companions, Railcard offers ⅓ off rail fares at just £30 a year
International Dog Day falls this week, which celebrates all paw-some dogs whatever their breed, or age, and is the perfect opportunity to take them on a trip to somewhere new. Pooches up and down the country will be excited to unearth new sniffing spots, doggy friends, and enjoy the special time with their owner.
It’s no secret that Brits are ‘mutts’ about their dogs - with 34% of UK homeowners having a pet pooch*! National Rail allows for up to two animals on any journey at no extra cost, and when it comes to travelling with pets, nothing beats the train - it’s fast, convenient, and stress-free, for animals and owners alike.
Treat four-legged friends to an adventure and save a few pennies, as National Rail offers many ways for travellers to save on their journey - paw-fect! Railcards offer travellers up to 1/3 off rail fares, and at just £30 for the year, passengers can make it back in a couple of trips.
On top of this, purchasing an Advance ticket can save an average of 43% compared to regular fares. Available up to 12 weeks in advance, team up an Advance ticket with a Railcard and save even more.
Here are three paw-some suggestions of places to enjoy the great British outdoors with dogs:
Pembrokeshire
Once named as the second-best coastal destination in the world by National Geographic, Pembrokeshire comes first in our eyes, with a collection of over 50 beaches and 186 miles of magnificent coastline - there are opportunities for long doggy strolls everywhere.
Doggy Treat: All of Pembrokeshire's beaches welcome dogs. Marloes Sands has a huge expanse of sand at low tide with rocks and interesting cliff formations as well as rock pools at the western end of the beach to keep dogs entertained.
The main stations in Pembrokeshire: Pembroke, Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven, Fishguard, Tenby and Narberth
Southwold
Located on the Suffolk Heritage Coast, Southwold is a charming seaside town in north Suffolk.
Doggy Treat: Sizewell beach is great for long dog walks, with minimum restrictions, pups are welcome year round. Grab a coffee or an ice-cream at the tea hut nearby for some well-earned sustenance after exploring the area.
Nearest Stations: Darsham or Halesworth
Wiltshire
Home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the magnetic presence of Stonehenge and Avebury have drawn visitors to Wiltshire for centuries. Dogs on leads are welcome.
Doggy Treat: Savernake Forest is the perfect space for fresh air. With a variety of paths to take, make sure to keep an eye out for some of the forest's ancient trees!
Stations in Wiltshire: There are many stations in Wiltshire, including Salisbury, Swindon, Westbury and Avoncliff. Visit Nationalrail.co.uk to locate the one closest to your destination.
Those looking to explore the country with their dog should check out Dog’s Trust’s top tips for travelling by train with Pets:
- Start to build a positive association with their new environment by rewarding them by giving them a treat or some praise every couple of seconds for being calm.
- As a train approaches and moves away, give your dog plenty of treats so they continue to build on that positive association.
- Once your dog is comfortable with the train approaching, you're ready to get on. When you first start training this step, go to a quiet platform at a quiet time of the day. Keep rewarding them to make sure it's a positive experience and keep the journey short to start with.
- Once your dog is comfortable on short journeys, start to build up the journey times. Start gradually at first, and build up to longer journeys.
For more great offers and to purchase your Railcard today, visit www.Railcard.co.uk
*Source: worldanimalfoundation.org