Langley Dog Park

Your dog will remember Langley Dog Park long after you've forgotten half the holiday. Located just outside Ashbourne in Derbyshire, it's a proper working dog park where your pooch gets to do what dogs actually want to do - run about without a lead and meet other dogs in open space. The setup is straightforward: enclosed fields, usually a few other dogs about, and room enough that things don't turn into chaos. For families with energetic dogs, especially those who've been cooped up in a caravan or cottage, it's exactly the sort of place that burns off an hour's worth of manic energy in about twenty minutes.

The walk from Ashbourne is reasonable if you're making a day of it, though most visitors park nearby. You'll want to allow an hour here - enough time for your dog to have a proper play and socialise without overdoing it. The park's free, which is a relief, and there's usually water available. Bring a towel if it's been wet; Derbyshire mud is the sort that sticks to everything.

If you're staying at Poplars Farm Caravanning just down the road, this makes a natural morning stop before heading into the Peak District or wandering Ashbourne's market town. It won't keep non-dog owners entertained for long, but if you're travelling with a dog, you'd be daft to miss it.