Our Top Tips to enjoy Camping with your Dogs
Camping holidays offer the perfect getaway for dog owners to enjoy a break without having to leave your pet behind. Our dog-friendly campsite in Cheddar
is ideally located for you and your fur-babies to enjoy endless walking trails whilst immersing yourselves in the beautiful Somerset countryside.
Our peaceful adults-only campsite
can be found less than 3 miles from the magnificent Cheddar Gorge and Caves, which are steeped in 500,000 years of history! The 4-mile circular Gorge Walk offers stunning views, plus the opportunity to encounter some local wildlife, and there are plenty of lesser-known walking trails for you and your pup to tackle!
If you’re going camping with your dog for the first time, it’s good to be properly prepared, so here are a few tips to get you started;
1. Make sure your dog is wearing a collar with tags, and that your contact details are up to date.
Should he or she wander off, you want to make it as easy as possible for the two of you to be reunited!
2. Have a practice run at home before you arrive at the campsite so your pet can familiarise themself with the smells and sounds of your new tent.
Set up a pet bed so your dog can get used to being in the tent, and give them plenty of praise and reassurance for their good behaviour!
3. Consider the distance.
Can your dog cope with the journey to your selected campsite? Travelling with your pet can sometimes be stressful, so we’ve prepared our top tips to make travelling with your dog
that little bit easier. 4. Are there dog-friendly walks or activities nearby?
Check whether nearby parks and beaches allow pets. Our campsite is a just a short drive from the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare, and whilst restrictions apply to sections of the beach, our furry friends are welcome all year round in certain areas.
5. If you plan to eat out, check local pet friendly eateries.
The Rodney Stoke Inn is located in front of our campsite in Cheddar, with a large beer garden. And being a rural community, there are plenty of pet friendly venues to visit in and around Cheddar.
Do dogs need to stay on leads? Where can you dispose of your dog’s poo? Are there areas that your pet won’t be allowed? Pet friendly campsites are generally pretty reasonable about their expectations of pet owners, but make sure you understand the rules before your visit.
7. Just like cars, tents can heat up to dangerous temperatures in the warm weather.
Never leave your pet alone in the tent, and make sure that fresh drinking water is always available.
8. Make sure you have the details of a local vet.
Should your pet have an unexpected accident during your camping trip you won’t want to waste time getting your pet the treatment they require.
Camping with dogs – pack the essentials
- Doggy first aid kit and any medication. As discussed, make sure you have the contact details for a local vet.
- Pet food. If you don’t have space to bring bulky food packets, weigh enough food for the duration of your visit and pack it in an airtight container.
- Poo bags. You will be responsible for clearing up after your pet during your camping trip.
- Favourite toys. Your pet may need distracting whilst you’re setting up camp! Familiar items will help to keep them calm and relaxed.
- Water proof pet bed. If you’re out and about on the campsite, it’s inevitable that your pet will get dirty or wet! Water proof pet beds are easy to keep dry and clean.
- Towel. Your pet will get dirty or wet during your camping trip so make sure you pack a spare towel to keep them clean and dry!
- Pet blanket. It can get cold at night if you’re sleeping in the great outdoors! Make sure you have a blanket to keep your pet warm.
- Spare lead. Just in case!
- Tether. Consider packing a tether if you know that your dog is prone to getting over excited. If you tether your pet he or she will have enough room to explore without disappearing to the other side of the campsite!
- Water bowl. Your pet should always have access to fresh water during your travels.
We hope these tips make your next camping trip a little easier for both you and your pet.
Find out more about our dog-friendly
campsite in Cheddar, Somerset.
By Kim Boyd
•
December 9, 2024
We are delighted to share that Riverside Holiday Village has been named the Holiday Park of the Year at this year's Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards held at Batch Country House at Lympsham in Somerset. This award recognises holiday parks, sites and villages that provide exceptional guest experiences across static vans, touring pitches and more with a wide range of facilities and entertainment. Marketing Executive, Kim Boyd, was also named Unsung Hero . The Unsung Hero Award recognises an individual working for a tourism business who excels in their role and deserves to be applauded for their work and commitment to the industry. Awards Director Nell Barrington said “For many it has been a really challenging year but tonight was all about celebration and recognising those businesses who go above and beyond every day to ensure every visitor has a fantastic, truly memorable experience. It is great that they get recognition for all their efforts and my sincere congratulations go to them for everything they do to put Bristol, Bath, Somerset and beyond on the map.” Giles Adams from VisitSomerset continued “I am delighted that the core ethos and hard work of Somerset tourism businesses is continuously recognised. Our county is all about authenticity and giving value for money. The awards help to ensure that our consumers understand and value what we all represent by recognising and rewarding our quality offer.” Kathryn Davis from VisitWest told us “We are thrilled that so many of our businesses have been rewarded for all their incredible achievements this year with their success at the awards and look forward to seeing some of our winners hopefully progress into the national Visit England for Excellence finals next year. We have so many iconic destinations and world class experiences in the region, it is important to remember to celebrate this, and that tourism doesn’t just happen. It is thanks to the investment, creativity and hard work of these businesses that make our visitor economy so valuable, worth more than £2.5bn just to the West of England. While this sector is largely made up of many small businesses, together they are incredibly powerful and thoroughly deserve the recognition received this evening.” We would like to thank our visitors, supporters and all of our fantastic team for your support.
By Kim Boyd
•
December 2, 2024
We are ecstatic to share that West Country Parks have been named the Hospitality and Tourism Business of the Year at the prestigious Sedgemoor Business Excellence Awards 2024. This award is intended to recognise the Hospitality & Tourism business that is the most successful in Sedgemoor, detailing what makes them stand out from other businesses and how they attract customers to the area. We were also named as finalists for the Sustainable Business Award in recognition of our efforts to reduce our businesses carbon footprint. Speaking about the awards, Roger Smith, General Manager at the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce, said; 'This year, we’ve received a record-breaking number of high-quality entries, leading to 67 incredible finalists. This outstanding response highlights the immense talent, creativity, and innovation within our local business community'. Commenting after the awards dinner which was held at The Canalside in Bridgwater, David Tattersall, Group Manager at West Country Parks, commented; 'We are thrilled to have been nominated for two awards and it's fantastic to have won one! Our business has progressed a great deal over the last few years, and it's great to have had all of our hard work recognised.' We would like to thank our visitors, supporters and all of our fantastic team for your support.
By Kim Boyd
•
November 28, 2024
We are thrilled to share that our family orientated holiday park, Riverside Holiday Village, was crowned winner of the Customer Choice Food Award for Family Fun Destinations at the staycation specialist’s 18th annual Awards – a celebration of the holiday parks, lodge resorts and boating locations in the company’s UK portfolio that have achieved the highest scores in independent guest satisfaction surveys throughout the 2024 season. Commenting after the awards were announced during a ceremony at the Hilton Metropole, in Birmingham David Tattersall, Group Manager at Riverside Holiday Village said: “It’s fantastic to be recognised for the quality of our food and it’s a testament to everyone on the team who works so hard to make sure our guests have the best possible experience when they stay with us. We are very aware that they place an enormous amount of faith in us when they choose where to go on holiday, so it’s great to know we’re getting it right." Speaking after presenting the award in front of more than 600 operators, industry suppliers and members of the Hoseasons team, Gemma Brown, General Manager at Hoseasons, said: “The team at Riverside Holiday Village are shining examples of the dedication and commitment needed to delight our guests and encourage the kind of positive reviews we know others look for when deciding where to spend their staycation. We are grateful for their continuing partnership in this our 80th year and wish them all the best for another successful season in 2025.”
Show More