10 July 2023
Who better to guide you through the best things to do in the Lake District with your furry companion than our four-legged friend?
Name: Milo
Age: 12
Breed: Yorkshire Terrier
Job title: Lake District Bark Ranger
Fun fact: I love climbing Wainwrights
Woof! I love exploring the Lake District National Park. There’s always so much to see, smell and do. When going on any adventures Mum makes sure that I have everything I need, like my lead, plenty of poo bags, water, treats and toys. We always bring a bag because there aren’t any bins out on the hills, so we take all our rubbish home with us.
My favourite activity is walking. We go on walks all over the Lake District. However, when my four-legged friends come to stay, we love the Miles Without Stiles routes because we can easily do the whole walk together and not have to worry about obstacles (I wasn’t the best at agility class).
When walking through fields and farmland I’m always on a short lead, we close all the gates and pick up my poo. I recently met a sheep called Harriet who told me how important it is because dog poo can sadly harm sheep.
On a sunny day I enjoy a paddle and sometimes even a swim. There are so many pools and lakes to discover, there really isn’t anything more refreshing! If I gotta go, I gotta go. But I always make sure that we clean up my business. It’s not nice when people have picnics and walks around the lake shores.
When the swim is too far, I love getting a boat to see the other side of the lakes. I find that exploring the Lake District by train, bus or boat is the easiest and most environmentally friendly way.
One of my favorite things about the Lake District is how many dog friendly shops and cafes there are. I don’t like waiting outside so I love being able to go shopping and have a treat from a café with everyone else.
When my friends come to visit, they stay in the best dog-friendly accommodation.
My top tips for the best day out are to explore the Lake District and take in all it has to offer with spectacular views, walks, lakes, shops and cafes. We need to treat this beautiful landscape with respect, to help preserve it for everyone to enjoy. Did you know that dog poo can spoil the soil? If left on the ground, it will stop the beautiful plants and flowers from growing!
We always follow the Countryside Code which can be found here: https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/countryside-code. Which includes top tips for taking care of your pooch, respecting the animals who call the Lake District their home and best practice for caring for the landscape.
I hope that my insights will help you plan an unforgettable adventure in the Lake District with your beloved four-legged companion.
Get ready for wagging tails and joyful memories that will last a lifetime!
Remember to leave only pawprints. Simply bag it and take it home.
Have you seen the Lake District National Park's Leave only pawprints campaign that I feature in? Me and my other paw friends are tackling dog poo fouling in our beautiful landscape, asking visitors to simply bag it and take it home. There is a series of videos that we star in talking about the key issues around dog poo. Watch the videos below. You will also see me on the Lake District National Park's social media accounts and signage out in the Park.
Watch the full series of films on our You Tube channel.
Guest Blogger
Lake District National Park, Bark Ranger
