The Bark Park

You'll find The Bark Park just outside Bicester, which is precisely what it sounds like - a proper outdoor space dedicated entirely to dogs. It's not massive, but it does what it sets out to do: gives your pooch room to run without a lead, socialise with other dogs, and burn off energy that would otherwise destroy your caravan.

The setup is straightforward. There are fenced areas where dogs can roam freely, and the grass gets maintained well enough that you're not wading through mud even after rain. It's the sort of place where your dog will spend twenty minutes completely knackered, which is worth its weight in gold when you're trying to enjoy a quiet evening at a nearby caravan site.

If you're staying at Glebe Leisure just down the road - and plenty of people do - this works as a quick morning stop or afternoon break. You don't need hours here. Thirty minutes to an hour covers it unless your dog is particularly antisocial and needs extra time to settle. Families with energetic dogs will get the most from it; retired couples with sedate terriers less so.

The main limitation is that it's quite functional rather than scenic. You won't be taking Instagram photos. But that's not really the point. You're there because your dog needs to run, not because you need another tourist tick. Bring waste bags, arrive early on weekends to avoid the crowds, and don't expect facilities beyond the basic.