Ooooooh we just love this time of year! Hallowe’en is usually strictly celebrated by us humans, however, the recent humanisation trend means it’s never been easier to get your pooch involved with Hallowe’en celebrations.
From hilarious dog costumes, to Hallowe’en dog walks and special spooky dog treats, there’s no excuse to not get your pup into the scary season this year!
So, pour yourself a hot chocolate in a flask (add an optional shot of warming brandy if you’re feeling devilish!), grab your dog’s lead, water and cosiest outdoor garments, and join us on an eerie tour around the UK. Here are our favourite spooky dog walks for a special Howlowe’en of your own:
Spooky Dog Walks in the North East
Welburn and Castle Howard
The eerie Temple of the Four Winds at Castle Howard. Source
The seven mile Castle Howard walk is on fairly flat ground and takes you through a stunning woodland full of auburn, rusty red and ochre coloured leaves. The Castle Howard estate is quite simply one of the most beautiful walks we’ve seen! One you’ve trekked though woodland, you’ll continue through fields overlooking the estate, into quaint little villages full of cosy pubs to warm yourselves up next to a roaring fire.
Spooky suggestion: we recommend you get a cake at dog-friendly cafe, Pattacakes Bakery.
Spooky Dog Walks in Scotland
Castle Fraser – Miss Bristow’s Trail
Beautiful crisp sunny day at Castle Fraser. Source
Another fairly flat walk, this is shorter than the length of Castle Howard at 1.5 miles. The walk takes you around the Castle Fraser estate through dense forests planted more than 200 years ago by Mary Bristow for her friend, Elyza Fraser. Dogs are welcome at the tearoom near the castle and you can see portraits of Mary Bristow and Elyze Fraser inside the castle.
Spooky suggestion: go and visit the Moses Well – the stone panels depict the Old Testament prophet Moses. A complete mystery surrounding their origin, experts believe they were made in the Netherlands for an important church. How they ended up on the Castle Fraser estate, we’ll never know…
Spooky Dog Walks in Wales
Craig-Y-Nos
Chilling cold at Craig-Y-Nos estate. Source
Craig-Y-Nos castle is situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park in the Upper Swansea Valley in South Wales. Built in the nineteenth Century, you can take your pooch far a walk around the 40-acre Victorian gardens. If off-terrain is more your thing, you can explore the eerie valleys surrounding the castle grounds instead.
Spooky suggestion: this is a dog-friendly hotel, so if serious spooks are right up your alley then we dare you to book a room and stay in the spine-chilling hotel. It is, after all, apparently Wales’ most haunted castle.
Spooky Dog Walks in the South East
Borley Rectory
Ghost hunters’ favourite – the Parish Church in Borley, Essex. Source
Often touted as the most haunted house in the UK, Borley Rectory is steeped in haunted activity dating back to reports from the 1800’s. This circle route of almost eight miles, starts in Sudbury and ends up in Borley. A walk for history buffs, it’ll also take you past the Borley Parish Church, which dates back to Norman times.
Spooky suggestion: the Rectory was burned to the ground in 1939, although many people still report sightings of paranormal activity. Are you brave enough to visit?
Spooky Dog Walks in the South West
Bodmin Moor
Ethereal Stone Circle “The Hurlers” in Bodmin Moors. Source
At eighty square miles, Bodmin Moor is a force to be reckoned with. Located in northeast Cornwall, the Moors are steeped in rich history. It’s where the Beast of Bodmin was first sighted, and home to the Dozmary Pool. A site where, according to legend, Sir Bedivere threw Excalibur to The Lady of the Lake.
There are many trails to choose from, although our favourite has to be the Rough Tor for it’s chilling views of the fog-drenched moors.
Spooky suggestion: the Moors are simply too large to take in in one day, so we suggest you make a weekend of it and book a dog-friendly cottage.
Spooky Dog Walks in London
Abney Park, Stoke Newington
The graveyard at Abney Park in Stoke Newington. Source
Naturally overgrown with all sorts of weird and wonderful shrubbery, this beautiful Victorian park hides a secret abandoned chapel in the center of the park. The memorials and tombstones are beautiful yet eerie, so this really is the place for a chilly, Autumnal dog walk. Don’t forget to take your camera with you though because your four-legged friend will have so much fun hiding in the undergrowth.
Spooky suggestion: for the closest train station, Stoke Newington BR is 200 metres from the Park entrance.
Before any dog walks, it’s important to know of cold weather dangers and what you should prepare for. Refresh your knowledge by taking a look at this blog post here.
Know of any other spooky dog walks? Let our community know in the comments below.
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