5 Brilliant Dog Friendly Camping Sites

If you are looking to spend some time away with your dog and love camping, there are some brilliant sites that welcome pets with open arms. Whether you want to head to the coast or stay further inland to enjoy the many beautiful woodland regions dotted all of the land, you'll find the perfect location for your time away with your pooch.

The great thing about Camping and Caravanning Club sites is that dogs are welcome at all of them with the added bonus being your four-legged friend goes for free. Below is a list of the 5 most popular sites here in the UK.

Thetford Forest Club

Thetford Forest Club is the perfect choice for dog lovers who want to explore one the most beautiful and largest pine forests in the country. Its location means you get to go on fantastic walks with your pooch while at the same time its proximity to the region's splendid towns and cities makes it easy to explore the many attractions found there. Being close to the Broads and Norfolk's coastline means spending some great days out at the beach and there's the option to spend time in Great Yarmouth or if you prefer the tranquil areas of the Southwold.

The campsite is well laid out and spacious with top notch facilities which includes a fenced off, safe area for the kids to play and the all-important dog walk. There's also a pond on site where avid fishermen can try their luck at catching a supper of roach, tench or carp. If you are more into cycling and hiking, the Peddars Way National Trail is just a stone's throw away from the site and there are loads of things to explore in the beautiful forest too with the High Lodge Forest Centre being a huge attraction for the kids!

Close by there are other attractions which includes a zoo, an adventure park and Dinosaur Adventure where you'll find brilliant trails, animal encounters and lots of play areas for the kids. All in all it's a great site for a family holiday with the added bonus of dogs being welcome and the area is great fun to explore with its beaches, castles, woodland and brilliant wildlife in an unspoilt region of the country.

Thetford Forest Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Puddledock Lane, Great Hockham, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1FJ

Telephone : 01953 498455

Dunstan Hill Club Campsite

Another gorgeous location where dogs are welcome with open arms, Dunstan Hill Club campsite has a lot to offer both inland and along the glorious Northumberland coastline. It's the perfect base for dog lovers who want to explore and discover the region's castles of which there are many.

There's a choice of grass and hardstand pitches which are all extremely well priced making for an affordable relaxing time away with your pooch. The on-site facilities are top notch as you would expect. The walks around the area are exceptional which includes woodland walks, beach walks along the vast expanse of the glorious Embleton Bay. The village of Craster is just a stone's throw away, it's where the "kipper" was first born!

For animal lovers and bird watchers, the campsite offers a superb base because it's so close to Bamburgh Castle with its thousands of birds that congregate there to breed during the summer months. Later in the year grey seals arrive in the Farn Islands to breed which makes staying at the campsite a fascinating place to use as a base.

If you are a fan of Harry Potter, Alnwick Castle is just to the south and well worth visiting for other reasons too because the gardens are out of this world being home to some of the most poisonous plants on the planet. For those who enjoy life on the water, Beadnell Bay is the place to head for but so is Seahouses, the delightful fishing port that's also close by. There are lots of places to eat with a superb hour's walk to the Ship Inn which is situated in Newton being very worthwhile - it boasts its own micro brewery and serves its own fine in-house beers at the bar.

Dunstan Hill Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Dunstan Hill, Dunstan, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 3TQ

Telephone : 01665 576310

Wolverley Club Campsite

Set in the delightful Worcestershire countryside, this is another popular choice with dog lovers who want to spend time with their pooches on holiday. The site is situated close to a canal and offers lovely walks along the towpaths. it's a great destination for animal lovers who enjoy biking in beautiful areas of the country. The site is definitely a great choice if you want to get out of the "fast lane" for a few weeks and just kick back to enjoy a relaxing time with a canine companion by your side.

There's plenty to see and do which includes enjoying the warm welcome you get from places like the Lock Inn which is just a quick walk away from the site. It's where you get to enjoy a pint of frozen cider. For those who adore fishing, Springfields Country Park is close by where there's also a children's play park. The Severn Valley Railway and its steam train is another place worth visiting in the area with a great choice of scenic train rides on offer.

The campsite boasts top facilities and a dog walk and there are lots of wonderful trails to explore with your pooch in the region which includes a wonderful 2 mile hike to a farm shop where you'll find the freshest of local produce including meats, vegetables, cheeses and bread. There's also a local Farmers' Market held in both Bewdley and Kidderminster every month.

Wolverley Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Brown Westhead Park, Wolverley, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY10 3PX

Telephone : 01562 850909

Normans Bay Site

Right opposite the beach, Normans Bay site is a superb choice of camping holiday destinations for animal lovers with the added bonus being your dog is more than welcome. It really is a walker's paradise that's situated on the East Sussex coast. The site has 200 pitches with top notch facilities and an on-site shop which is very handy.

The walks along the coast are out of this world with the South Downs Way offering stunning views of the coastline and countryside. The area is steeped in history with the Normans having landed along the coast in 1066 when the Battle of Hastings took place. Needless to say the castles of Hastings and Pevensey are well worth a visit.

Eastbourne is just a few miles away to the south west where there's a choice of things to do and see as well as some brilliant places to eat and enjoy a pint or two. The best part about choosing to stay at the campsite with your pet is that the beach opposite is dog-friendly and if you're an avid angler, the fishing is pretty good too. You can also play ball games and fly kites on the beach which is not allowed on the campsite. If you like strolling around Farmers' Markets, there's a very good one that's held in Pevensey Bay and it takes place every other Saturday.

Normans Bay Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Normans Bay, Pevensey, East Sussex, BN24 6PR

Telephone : 01323 761190

Bala Club Campsite

Set in an idyllic location, Bala Club campsite is a very tranquil place to spend some well deserved quality time away with your pooch. Snowdonia National Park has to be one of the most spectacular regions in the country and the campsite is right on its boundary just 6 miles north of the superb lake and its extraordinary scenery. The site offers the very best that north Wales has to offer. It only boasts 50 pitches and the facilities are top notch which includes a small dog walk.

If you are an avid sailor and love taking part in water sports, it's the ideal camping holiday destination because of its proximity to Bala Lake. The walks in the area are outstanding and if you love cycling, there are some splendid routes to explore. Then there's the railways that takes you through the lovely countryside, one of the best ways to see all the beautiful landscapes the region has to offer.

There's some great sandy beaches close by which includes Prestatyn, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl and Llandudno to name but a few. You would need to check which are dog-friendly and respect any seasonal restrictions that are well sign-posted on all the beaches in the area. There's a great pub close to the campsite which serves locally produced fare and there's an organic farm where you can buy home-reared lamb and beef which includes very good burgers!

One thing worth noting is that dogs are not allowed on the tent camp ground, but are more than welcome on other areas of the site. As with all the other campsites listed above, WiFi reception is not brilliant at most of them and you do have to rely on hotspots in the areas to be sure of a connection, but at the end of the day a relaxing holiday away from it all should include not having to be on the internet and with everything there is to do and see, you would not have time anyway which ultimately means you have more time to spend with your dog when on holiday!

Bala Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Crynierth Caravan Park, Cefn Ddwysarn, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7LN

Telephone : 01678 530324