I'm working with the excellent editors at Bradt Guides to produce a one-stop guide to dog-friendly holidays in Britain. Dog-Friendly Weekends: 50 breaks in Britain for you and your dog will be a compendium of brilliant escapes the whole family can enjoy, published in spring 2022. Each chapter will focus on a different destination and will offer ideas for things to do beyond just a nice walk. Did you know there are museums you can take the dog to, for example? And were you aware that many of the UK's heritage railways offer dogs-go-free tickets? There are also castles, stately homes and even boat trips you can do with the family pet, and this book will feature the best of them.
I'll also seek out the best accommodation, great dog-friendly pubs that go out of their way to welcome their four-legged patrons, and practical bits like dog sitters, local vets and pet supplies shops. Ultimately, this book will be the only title dog owners need for amazing adventures in 2022.
Why should I buy it now?
The biggest benefit for investing early is exclusive, early-bird content: if you buy the book with the exclusive content option, you'll get a monthly newsletter with inspiration for things to do with your dog this year. May 2022 is a long way off, so there's an entire year of adventures to be had before then. I'll send you monthly inspiration, insider tips and, of course, cute dog pictures to help you plan exciting activities this summer. If you purchase the exclusive content option, you'll get an email asking you to subscribe to an exclusive mailing list once the Crowdfunder is over, and from June 2020 you can expect monthly inspiration for you and the dog in your inbox.
I'm also hoping to offer exclusive discounts with brand partners, so sign up for this option and you might end up saving some cash in the long run! (The newsletter will kick off once this Crowdfunder is over.)
By buying the book now, you'll also help me (the author) survive financially while I'm writing and researching the book. It has been a tough year for travel publishing thanks to Coronavirus, so the extra cash will go towards my expenses on the road (petrol, accommodation etc), which aren't covered by the publisher.
How much will the book retail for when it's published?
We expect the book will retail for somewhere between £16 and £18 when it's published. Postage costs around £2.95 per book, too, so I've tried to account for this in my pricing structure here. The book will be sent out via Royal Mail from Bradt's warehouse as soon as it's published.
Can I purchase the book if I live outside the UK?
Unfortunately, I can't take international orders right now. If you're devastated by this news, drop me a DM on Twitter and I'll see what I can do. For now, I am only accepting UK orders.
Which destinations will be in the book?
The book covers Britain, so that's England, Scotland and Wales. I'll be travelling to almost every county, from the far reaches of Cornwall to the lofty heights of the Scottish Highlands and islands, and a whole lot of destinations in between. There will be city breaks, beach breaks, rural adventures and small town explorations. I've already covered the likes of lovely Lincoln, Northumberland, Scilly Isles and Oxfordshire (my home county), and so the research continues...
Who are you and why are you writing this book?
I'm a professional travel writer with almost a decade in the industry, a few guidebook contributions under my belt and countless articles written for newspapers like The Telegraph, The Times, the i, The Independent and magazines from Nat Geo Traveller to woman&home (more on my work here). I've spent the last few years doing significant amounts of travel with my dog and have found a dearth of useful, practical and inspirational content that goes beyond hotels and pubs.
I was frustrated by the lack of coherent information from trusted sources for travelling dog owners, so I pitched this guide to Bradt and here we are. I'll be hitting the road with my dog, Arty, to seek out the very best places to take your dog on holiday.
[Thanks to Rutland Pet Photography for the above photo.]