Doggy Adventure Parks

Your dog will lose its mind at Doggy Adventure Parks near Walmer Bridge. It's exactly what it sounds like - a proper off-lead space where your pooch can run, splash, and generally behave like a maniac without you panicking about traffic or other walkers. The setup caters to dogs of all sizes and temperaments, with enough room that nervous types aren't forced into constant interaction with the boisterous ones.

It's the kind of place that transforms a dog who's been cooped up in a caravan into something almost normal for the car journey home. If you're staying at Donkey Creek Farm or Sea View - both just a few miles down the road - this beats another loop around the same local fields by miles. Even Mowbreck Park guests could make the short trip worthwhile on an afternoon when the weather's decent.

Bring a towel. Your dog will either find water or get inexplicably muddy, possibly both. The facilities are geared entirely toward letting dogs be dogs rather than providing extensive amenities for humans, so don't expect a café or entertainment beyond watching your own animal rediscover what it's like to be off-lead. That's actually the whole appeal.

Worth a visit if you're travelling with a dog that needs proper exercise, especially if you're doing a longer caravan holiday and fancy a change of scenery. Less essential if your dog's the type that prefers napping in a lay-by.