Dog-friendly guide to Kent
Dogs deserve holidays just like their humans and a well-travelled pooch makes for a well-rounded pet, so open their horizons on a trip to Kent. The county is chock full of interesting things to see and do, many of them pet friendly. From mighty castles to grand country manors, and historic river tours to scenic rail trips, we’ve sniffed out some of the best things to do with your dog in tow. The glorious coast is a huge draw, with beaches galore (dog-friendly year-round) and epic clifftop walks as well as plenty of country and woodland rambles. All that fresh air calls for sustenance and cloud-comfy beds, so we’ve also included places to eat and stay that your dog will love as much as you.
Dog-friendly walks
Teston River Walk
A 3-mile circular walk with lovely Medway Valley views, looping past the river and over open grassland, wood, scrub and wetland, mostly on tracks and footpaths with small sections on the road. Watch out, the ground around Teston Bridge Country Park can flood in winter and become impassable, and there are sections of farmland where you’ll need to put your dog on a lead. Start at Teston (pronounced Teeson) Bridge Country Park and stroll over the arched bridge built from Kentish ragstone during the 15th century and return via the lock and weir. You may spot otters in the Medway; bats and barn owls if you come at dusk.
The White Cliffs of Dover
Your dog will love scampering along this easy-breezy 3.5-mile circular walk from The White Cliffs of Dover Visitor Centre to the South Foreland Lighthouse. Soak up the superb views peeking over the chalky cliffs to the hard-working Dover Strait – over 400 commercial vessels plough up and down the narrowest part of the English Channel every day, making it one of the world’s busiest shipping channels. The trail is a haven for wild plants, insects and birds so you’ll want a leash for sections. On reaching the 1842 lighthouse (in daily use until 1988), you can return the way you came or take a different route back to the visitor centre which has a café for tea and cake.
Ham Street Woods
If you’re looking for a short woodland walk for a breath of fresh air and a leg stretch for your dog, this is the perfect place. Ham Street Woods is an ancient woodland set in one of England’s first National Nature Reserves. Home to rare moths and butterflies, nesting birds including the elusive nightingale and hawfinch, plus two protected species, the great crested newt and the dormouse, it is an important haven for wildlife and rich in biodiversity. This spectacular ancient woodland is perfect for a gentle stroll with three way-marked trails from 1-3 miles winding through the tranquil reserve. Visit in April or May as it bursts into life and birdsong.
Dog-friendly places to eat & drink
Open Wednesday-Sunday
Brewing since 2011, the award-winning Curious Brewery in Ashford are on a mission to make fresh tasting beer and cider using quality ingredients, all brewed in their purpose built, state-of-the-art brewery. Taking inspiration from nearby France, they use Champagne yeast in their brew for a complex aroma and clean finish. With a bright and airy dog-friendly restaurant overlooking the building where the magic happens, you can tuck into pizzas, small plates, pub style mains or a Sunday roast, paired with Curious Brewery drinks on tap. You’re minutes from Ashford International Station that runs both local trains and a fast service to London.
Open Thursday-Monday
Positioned on Smarts Hill in the quaint village of Penhurst, this 15th-century building, full of character and charm, has heaps of walks fanning out in all directions, which make it a super base for exploring with your dog. Return for meals (classic pub grub and Pan-Asian dishes) or a drink at the bar; dogs are very welcome. A few miles outside Tunbridge Wells, you’re close to Penhurst Place which has two scenic walking trails taking in part of the Eden Valley, and Hever Castle and Gardens, home of Anne Boleyn, where dogs are welcome in the castle and grounds on a lead.
Arthurs Coffee House, Cranbrook
Open Monday-Saturday
In the High Weald AONB, sleepy Cranbrook lies between two National Trust treasures: Scotney Castle and Sissinghurst Castle Garden. Dogs are welcome in the grounds of both. Rock up before your stroll at Arthur’s Coffee House (where your pooch will be fussed over) for excellent coffee and a breakfast bagel, or come post-walk and tuck into toasties, jacket spuds, wraps and sandwiches. They are a friendly bunch here.
The George & Dragon, Speldhurst
Open daily
Originally a grand manor house built in the 1200s, the George & Dragon is one of the oldest inns in England, with ancient beams overhead, flags underfoot, low ceilings, big open fireplaces, a cosy bar and a big sunny garden. Pooches are welcome: find water bowls and treats at the bar, and they can dine with you in the downstairs restaurant. Menus fly the flag for excellent gastropub cooking and they have options for veggies plus a kids’ menu. You’re in the attractive village of Speldhurst with walks shooting off in all directions.
Dog-friendly days out
If your salty sea dog has got his or her sea legs, why not opt for a river tour around historic Canterbury? Canterbury River Tours have been operating for over 90 years! Tours are informative, fun and varied, offering history tours, chilling tales tours in autumn (suitable for 10 years and over) or a relaxed evening punt down the river. In Roman and medieval times, the River Stour was an important highway, connecting Canterbury to mainland Europe and providing an easy crossing into London. Since then, it has powered many local industries from mills to breweries and paper merchants. Today, it makes a super spot for a gentle punt.
Towering above the iconic White Cliffs, Dover Castle is a mighty and foreboding fortress. Built soon after 1066, and site of royal intrigues and epic sieges, its walls must have tales to tell. It was also part of the crucial effort to evacuate Allied troops from the beach at Dunkirk. With 80 acres to roam, you and your four-legged pal can discover the castle grounds (dogs must be kept on a lead) and mighty battlements, a Roman lighthouse and Saxon church. They also have a café, tea room and restaurant for a pick-me-up after all that fresh air.
Hop aboard the steam train at Tunbridge Wells West. Enjoy lovely views as the heritage train winds through five glorious miles of lush countryside to Eridge and back, with options to hop on and off along the route. Dogs are welcome to travel for free but must be kept on a lead and off the seats. Do bring a blanket or bed to keep your pet comfy if you like.
Dog-friendly beaches
Whitstable West Beach
Pretty Whistable’s shingle beach is dog-friendly year-round. Running from the south of the town’s harbour to neighbouring Seasalter, there’s tons of space for your dog to zoom about and get their paws wet. When the tide is out you can walk the entire route on the beach or hop on the Saxon Shore Way and follow the path, suitable for wheels, with views over the sea, colourful beach huts and charming clapboard houses. On Whitstable’s market day you can pick up some delicious treats and wander around the working harbour.
Sandwich Bay Beach
Sandwich Bay is made up of a long sweep of sand and shingle beach that welcomes dogs year-round. Separated from the Isle of Thanet by the River Stour estuary and backed by Sandwich and Pegwell Bay Nature Reserve (free entry and dogs on leads welcome) and two golf courses, the bay is part of a private estate that operates a toll gate for cars. You’ll find it is a popular spot with ramblers, kite flyers, bird watchers and dog-walkers, and there’s even a nudist section.
Dumpton Gap Beach
Dumpton Gap is far more charming than the name supposes. This small bay with rock pools galore at low tide, has a lovely promenade, kiosk, beach huts, cafés and nearby toilets. Do check your times as the bay disappears completely at high tide. Dogs can completely free-range here, year-round, with plenty to sniff out. You have the option to walk to Ramsgate if you’d like to stretch your legs a bit further.
Dog-friendly places to stay in Kent
This immaculate stable retreat (the friendly owners live at one end, you at the other, and all you hear are the birds) is surrounded by pretty dog-secure gardens and the established Heppington vineyard. You get logs for the wood-burner, wine from the estate and fresh flowers for the table. Dogs get biscuit treats, rugs for the furniture, towels for drying and miles of Kentish countryside to scamper. Relax in the lofty sitting room, chop and stir in a big fresh kitchen then snooze in the airy sunroom. Or splash in the rose-scented pool and knock a few balls around the court. Historic Canterbury is up the road and you can stroll across fields to local pubs.
Come for sea air, independent shops, great places to eat and this quirky cottage with plenty of room and a sunny, dog-proofed garden. You’re just off the high street for a farm shop, good butcher and The Whitstable Fish Market on the harbour for fresh, sustainable fish and oysters. Bring everything back to the kitchen and whip up a seafood feast – there’s even a lobster pot. Rover will be delighted with the special shelf of goodies too. Bedrooms are spread over the two floors: the downstairs bathroom has a vintage roll top and the upstairs a shower. In summer you’ll be in the walled garden which is just made for entertaining and has a summerhouse (with a cinema projector and WiFi), a chiminea, hammock, and an outdoor kitchen with a Big Green Egg – perfect for smoking, roasting and pizza making.
There’s a remote feel to this tranquil spot on the edge of the river Swale surrounded by marshland and wetlands with superb walks shooting off in all directions. With five dog-friendly rooms, kitted out with comfy beds, bowls and homemade treats, this foodie inn will make the whole family happy – four-legged friends are welcome in the restaurant too. They grow most of the produce used in the restaurant in their one-acre garden which you’re welcome to wander around. Breakfast is served in the bar/restaurant and includes a full Kentish spread with home-smoked bacon, homemade sausages, Eggs Royale with home-smoked fish, or a lighter Grazing Bowl with oats, seeds, quinoa and garden fruits. It’s worth staying in for lunch and dinner too. Views soar from the dining terrace over the river as marsh harriers whirl overhead. Sleep well in comfortable rooms, wake refreshed and ready for long walks.
If this dog-friendly guide has given you paws for thought about Kent’s many and varied delights, browse our collection of dog-friendly places to stay and start planning your trip.
Written by
Carmen McCormack
Carmen is a freelance writer specialising in travel. She once lived in a bus in north Wales, skipped off to study in Barcelona, and now calls Bristol home. When she’s not tapping away on her laptop, she can be found reading (a lot), lake swimming (a little), and pottering on the allotment with husband and two kiddos. She’s currently dreaming about cold cerveza and torta in Mexico.
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