Well winter has definitely arrived brrrrr….. However, sun, rain, hail or snow our favourite pooches still love to get out for their walkies!! If you’re new to the area or have just got a new puppy here’s some great walking spots this time of year……
Remember if you have a new puppy make sure they are fully vaccinated before heading out exploring……
1. Walks Along the Coast
There’s plenty of beautiful spots along the coast at this time of year. During the summer months people tend to flock to the seafront but it can be a little quieter during the winter. If you and your pal are nicely wrapped up, we can’t think of a more amazing place for a walk. Anywhere from Blackrock to Dun Laoghaire is pretty much fantastic. Dun Laoghaire has two amazing piers and dog owners walk along both – make sure to take care on a windy day.
The People’s Park is a great spot on Sunday and there’s always plenty of dogs to meet for a sniff! Each Sunday from 11am to 4pm the People’s Park Market is on where you can grab a bite to eat and nice warm drink. If you haven’t been yet we’d strongly advise you to check it out, it’s very popular with tourists and locals alike – oh and of course dog owners in Dun Laoghaire!
At the moment the Dún Laoghaire Christmas festival is on each weekend which would be worth a visit with your pooch. At the weekend the festival has a lovely little fun fair near the library featuring the ferris wheel from the movie Grease! We’re not sure if furry friends are allowed on the ferris but you can always try!!
2. A Little Inland – Killiney Hill
On a crisp winter’s day Killiney Hill is a great spot to stretch the legs – all four of them!!! With tonnes of track and trails to explore and knockout views of Dublin bay what more could a dog walker ask for??
There’s also a nice little dog-friendly café where you can grab a coffee and your dog can freshen up with a nice drop of water.
Our top tip…. Bring a warm hat!!!
3. Cabinteely Park
Cabinteely Park is a must for all good dogs! There are some lovely trails to walk and best of all there Cabinteely Park has its own dog park, a gated enclosure where you can let your dog run off the lead and play with other dogs.
If you have young children there’s a super playground worth checking out.
4. Marlay Park
Marlay Park is another super spot and you could get lost here exploring for hours – it’s over 300 acres in size! If dedicated dog parks are your thing there’s a really nice one here for you too.
Marley Park also has regular weekend food markets that are full of amazing local cuisine….
During the summer months Marley Park often hosts ticketed music events so now is a great time to go exploring.
5. Bushy Park
A first-class dog spot along the Dodder river is Bushy Park in Terenure. Great for meeting other local dogs on their daily walks and if your furry friend likes a dip it’s definitely worth a visit. Keep an eye out for local ducks!!
Busy Park comes complete with its own pretty waterfall!
6. Deer Park
Deer Park in Mount Merrion is one of Dublin’s many amazing parks and has a wonderful enclosed Dog Park inside. Deer Park is still a bit of a hidden gem and extremely popular with locals in Mount Merrion, Stillorgan and Dundrum. There’s a mixture of open green areas and wooden hideaways so plenty of exploring and sniffing can be done. There’s also some exercise equipment if you’re feeling up to a challenge!
7. Deansgrange
Close to Deansgrange, is Meadow Vale and it’s a nice spot to get out and jump in some puddles. Meadow Vale is a popular location with the customers of our Foxrock veterinary hospital. There’s a tennis club in Meadowvale so if your dog has a super sensitive nose, they might be able to sniff out a stray ball or two from the surrounding bushes!