As if we need any more excuses to get out and get walking in beautiful Snowdonia, this week is Walk your Dog Week 2016 – a national campaign run by the Forestry Commission to encourage us all to get out and about and take our faithful four-legged friends with us.

Walk your Dog Week 2016 runs from the 25th April to the 1st May, and so far, the weather for this week is looking pretty good, so there’s really no excuse!

 There are lots of wonderful places to take pooch out for a walk here in Snowdonia – many on our doorstep. Lucky pooch will be spoilt for choice, and you’ll be feeling fitter, healthier and happier. Research has shown that just 30 minutes of moderate exercise outdoors can boost our fitness and our mood. And of course, exercise is crucial to keep dogs healthy, content and happy.

Here are some brilliant dog walking ideas close to the Oakeley Arms Hotel. Have a happy walk!

• Nefyn Beach, Llŷn Peninsula – Set into the wild coastline of the Llŷn Peninsula are some of Wales’ finest beaches, which means plenty of wide, sandy spaces that dogs will love to explore. The beaches at Nefyn and Morfa Nefyn are some of the most well known along the peninsula and are a great space for dogs to chase balls, frisbees and sticks and even splash about in the shallow bay. There are lots of lovely cliff top paths for extra sniffs and smells, and not to mention stunning views for human walkers!
• The Dingle Local Nature Reserve, Anglesey – There are 25 acres of stunning woodland, river banks and gorges for our four legged friends to explore at the Dingle in Anglesey. For two legged visitors there are nature trails, sculptures and a poetry trail by a local poet. A large part of the nature reserve is made up beautiful oak, ash and wild cherry trees, and the whole area is a haven for wild flowers like bluebells and daffodils, not to mention a healthy wild bird population. Dogs welcome in all areas.
• Black Rock Beach, Porthmadog – Our four legged friends will absolutely love the two mile stretch of beach at Morfa Bychan, known as Black Rock Sands (thanks to the dark and brooding cliffs at its western end). It’s been a popular film location – it featured in a music video by British band Supergrass and in a film version of Macbeth. It was also the backdrop for the Manic Street Preachers album cover “This is my truth tell me yours”. It might not be the weather to get out the deck-chair and beach towel, but a bracing walk along the beach is a great way to blow away the winter cob-webs and tire out the dog!
• Harlech Beach, Gwynedd – The wide sandy beach at Harlech is one of the best beaches along this stretch of Cardigan Bay. Four legged visitors will love exploring every yard of the four mile beach, along with one of the finest sand dune systems on the Welsh coast. The waters here are shallow and so are ideal for paddling pooches. And because there’s so much open space here, the beach is often quiet and peaceful – a perfect place to escape the crowds.
• Llyn Mair, Tan y Bwlch – A favourite with dog walkers everywhere, the lovely lakeside paths around our local Llyn Mair make for a perfect stroll with pooch. And less than a mile from the Oakeley Arms too!

Don’t forget that some of our local beaches have dog restrictions during the summer months – meaning some parts are closed to dogs. It’s best to check before you set off.

And if you’d like more ideas, then you’ll find lots more on our walking pages of the blog – click here for plenty of walking inspiration! Have a happy walk 🙂