Dog-friendly things to do in North Wales

This is a dramatic and rewarding adventure. If you want to see one of the best views in the whole of the UK, it’s worth making the 13km trek up and down Mount Snowdon, via the more gradual, and quieter Ranger Path. 

Allow a whole day for this and start at Llyn Cwellyn car park (and pre-book a parking space during busier months). Established by the 19th-century “Snowdon Ranger,” John Morton, it’s a gentler route than many, and crosses the Snowdon Railway, providing spectacular views down to Porthmadog and Caernarfon.

Follow the marker stones, take a map, and wrap up well, as the weather can change here dramatically and it’s often very windy on the summit. 

If you’re looking for a more active way to enjoy British engineering, take a trip on a steam train on the world’s first preserved railway. The third-class carriages are dog-friendly and only cost a few pounds extra. 

The railway runs from the coastal town of Tywyn, eight miles northeast to the pretty mountain village of Nant Gwernol, where there are picturesque woodland walks. Trains run three times a day from Tywyn and the last return train leaves Nant Gwernol mid-afternoon. 

With six historic steam and four diesel engines pulling period carriages, it’s a train enthusiast’s heaven and dogs will enjoy lolling their tongues out the open wagons as the train huffs up the hillside.

If you’re staying at Haven’s scenic Greenacres Holiday Park in Porthmadog, you have one of the most beautiful beaches in North Wales on your doorstep.  

Close to the village of Morfa Bychan, with rolling dunes, two miles of beach, rockpools and caves, there are plenty of good sniffs for your dog, and lots of natural beauty to appreciate. 

Enjoy a relaxing family beach day and bring your dog along for a romp. Dogs are welcome on the eastern or western sections of the beach but are not permitted on the main sands from April to September. 

On the eastern side of the Afon Dwyryd estuary, lies Harlech Beach, another popular beauty spot with day-trippers and holidaymakers. This is a quieter beach with spectacular Snowdonia views. 

This circular near 10km trail takes you and your furry friend through the rolling hills of Llangollen. Park in East Street car park and allow a few hours for a leisurely stroll. 

The route begins alongside Llangollen Canal before passing by the scenic Horseshoe Falls where you can take a dip if you’re feeling brave (bring a towel and warm clothes).  

Next you’ll pass by Llantysilio Church and the 13th-century Valle Crucis Abbey ruins. Two miles further on you’ll see more remains – this time of the medieval Castle Dinas Bran, high on its scenic hilltop. 

It’s simply one of the best dog-friendly walks in North Wales.

One of the most glorious falls in Snowdonia, the waterfall on the River Llugwy plunges 138 feet down the hillside amid verdant forest trails. Visit the nearby villages of Betws y Coed and Capel Curig, where there are plenty of cafes and restaurants for lunch. 

You can walk two miles from Betws y Coed on either side of the river, or park at the Swallow Falls Hotel. Take sensible shoes and rainwear.

Visit a UNESCO-listed feat of creativity and engineering in Trevor, Wrexham. Thomas Telford’s aqueduct, opened in 1805, took 10 years to complete and spans 307 feet, standing over 120 feet above the River Dee and carrying the Llangollen Canal. 

Watch narrowboats navigate this spectacular structure, enjoy Instagrammable views and stroll the towpath. Keep your dog on the lead though, unless you want to deal with a wet pooch! 

The nearby Ty Mawr Country Park is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and well worth a wander while you’re in the area.

The perfect blend of nature conservation and good food, Conwy Water Garden is home to beautifully landscaped ponds, fishing lakes, an aquatic centre, and the Dutch Pancake House.  

Enjoy a woodland walk, try your hand at coarse fishing, follow the nature trail, and even feed the birds (buy seeds on site). You’ll want to keep your pet on the lead for this visit.

The hidden cove of Traeth Porth Wen Beach, on Anglesey, offers a mixture of natural beauty and industrial heritage, since this was once home to a Victorian brickworks, whose buildings remain. 

A few miles west of the better-known Bull Bay, Porth Wen Beach is popular for both sea swimming and fishing, and dogs will find plenty to enjoy in this sheltered and calm cove. 

There is a steep descent to the beach and no toilet facilities, so do plan ahead.