A NORTH WALES route has been selected as Wales' most dog-friendly road trip.

More people than ever are planning to travel with their dog this summer and searches for ‘driving with dogs’ are said to have soared 200 per cent in the last 12 months. 

With this in mind, the experts at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts have unveiled the top 10 most dog friendly road trips in Wales, so both owner and furry friend can enjoy the experience safely. 

Based on multiple criteria such as dog friendly pubs, dog friendly Airbnb’s and vets on route, the road trips span dramatic coastlines and gorgeous scenery, to lakes and forests. 

'The North Wales Way' - stretching from Mold in Flintshire to Holyhead on Anglesey - has been selected as number one.

The route leads 75 miles (120km) past mighty castles, following the old trading route, along our northern coast into Anglesey.

Along the way, you can take in the likes of; Flint Castle, Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, St Asaph, Kinmel Dunes, Gwrych Castle, the historic town of Conwy and so much more.

TOP STORIES

The stand-out details of the North Wales Way are: 

  • The road trip runs from Mold to Holyhead and is officially the most dog-friendly road trip in Wales.
  • The route can take as little time as 3 hours 15 minutes and is 75 miles long.
  • The road trip boasts 1,061 dog-friendly Airbnbs on route so holidaymakers can get settled and make their time away last even longer. 
  • There are also 39 vets along the way in case of any emergencies.
  • Dog owners can even visit more than 24 pubs along the way. 

AKeith Hawes at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts says: ‘’Exploring new places with your dogs is a great experience for both you and your pet, but when driving with animals in the car make sure you follow these rules to keep your animals safe.”

Some top tips to follow to keep dogs safe while travelling are;

Don't leave your dog alone in the car

Keeping dogs in cars is a viral topic every summer and one that pet owners MUST obey. It is illegal to leave a dog alone in a hot car in a way that could cause unnecessary suffering. This could result in a £20,000 fine and a potential ban from owning animals in the future.

Use appropriate restraints

Letting a pet roam freely in your car when you are travelling on the road is dangerous and against the law, to keep your pet safe make sure you use the correct restraints, you could use a dog friendly seatbelt to keep them secure or use a safety cage in the boot to make sure they are secure. 

No heads out of the window

If you are caught with your pet's head hanging out the window, you can get fined up to £5,000 for putting your pet at risk of danger, things can happen within a second on the road so it’s crucial to keep your pet as safe as possible when travelling. 

Take regular breaks

If you are travelling far, make sure you take regular breaks with your pet to keep them safe. Especially if you are travelling in the summer, it can take just 15 minutes before your dog can become seriously unwell.

Don't feed your dog too much before travelling 

Many dogs suffer from motion sickness, and eating just before travelling can cause an upset tummy, so be sure to feed well before setting off in the car.