Pounding the pavement with your pooch. Discovering the countryside with your dog. Enjoying the freedom of walks with your furry friend. There are so many benefits of having a dog, and exercise is definitely one of them.
It’s no surprise that dog owners are more likely to meet recommended daily and weekly exercise targets. And fit owners often mean fit dogs too. By keeping your dog well exercised with plenty of walks and runs, you’ll improve not only their fitness but also protect them against obesity, arthritis, and other health issues.
But we can’t all live in the countryside with open fields on our doorsteps. So, to help active dog owners and their four-legged friends, we’ve discovered the top cities and towns in the UK for dog and human fitness. Here’s what we found.
The research:
We looked at 119 towns and cities across the UK and scored them on their fitness, accessibility and the outdoors using 12 different data points. We looked at things like dog-friendly areas and proximity to national parks, as well as fitness in the area covering elevation and places to exercise your dog. We also looked at the weather and safety too.
UK top towns and cities for active dogs
Let’s dive into the data and discover the cities and towns that score highly in our doggy index.
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The top cities for active dogs and their owners
Top dog when it comes to cities is Southampton. The south coast gem has 31 dog parks per capita and 143 parks and play areas, so it’s great for fitness. The New Forest National Park is right on the city’s doorstep and it sees over 1,700 hours of sunshine every year – perfect for getting out and exploring the city and surrounding areas with your pooch in tow. Not to mention the 32 dog-friendly hikes in the city – the highest for any city or town in our index.
St. Albans sits in second position with its 36 dog parks per capita and 158 public parks or play areas. It has an elevation of 119.7m to keep both you and your dog fit too. Third on the list of top cities is beautiful Bath. Not only is it a wonderful city to explore on foot, but you can also do it with your dog as well. It’s a super safe city to walk with your dog during the day and night, promises plenty of sunshine and low rainfall, and has 10 dog-friendly hikes and 34 dog parks.
Leeds comes in fourth with the highest number of wildlife areas in our index, at 36. The Yorkshire city has 41 dog parks per capita and an incredible 213 public parks or play areas. In fifth place sits an extremely walkable city, Norwich. This Norfolk gem has the Broads Authority National Park on its doorstep and 161 public parks and play areas.
The remaining cities in our top 10 include Leicester for its dog-friendly hikes, Oxford and its high number of play parks, Sheffield for its proximity to the Peak District National Park, Birmingham and its dog parks, and Cambridge for its dog-friendly hikes.
The 10 top towns for active dogs and their owners
The Greater Manchester town of Bury is the number one town for active dogs and their owners. With its 51 dog parks, close proximity to the Peak District National Park, 108 public parks and play areas, 11 dog-friendly hikes, plus its low population density it’s the ideal place to get out and be active with your dog.
Just below Bury in the active dog stakes comes Guildford. Residents of this Surrey town and their furry companions benefit from 149 public parks and play areas, 54 dog parks, over 1,500 hours of sunshine every year and little rainfall. Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands comes in third place, with its elevation of 120.5 metres ideal to work up a sweat for both pooches and pooch parents, as well as being a super safe place to walk alone with your dog both during the day and at night.
Maidstone in Kent climbs to fourth place with its 189 public parks and play areas and over 1,700 annual hours of sunshine and high average temperatures. Fifth on the list of the top towns for active dogs is Weston Super Mare. Not only does the town promise beaches to exercise on, but it also has 15 nature and wildlife areas and seven dog-friendly hikes. The remaining towns in our top 10 include Harrogate with its proximity to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Warrington for its high volume of play parks, Bolton for its elevation, Bournemouth for its beaches and public parks, and Bracknell for its safety.
The best for active dogs and their owners outside of England
Away from England, some of the top cities and towns to get active with your dog include:
- East Kilbride: The perfect place for fitness with 34 nature and wildlife areas, an elevation of 178.4m and 40 dog parks per capita.
- Cardiff: The Welsh capital promises nearly 200 public parks and play areas, 10 dog-friendly hikes and over 1,500 hours of sunshine per year.
- Aberdeen: Up to 12 nature and wildlife areas, plus the nearby Cairngorms National Park do it for the dogs in this Scottish city.
- Edinburgh: The Scottish capital promises 27 dog parks per capita and is a safe city to exercise with your dog during the day and at night.
- Derry: Nine dog parks per capita, nearly 1,400 hours of sunshine a year, and safe to walk your pooch during the day do it for Derry.
Whether you’re taking your pooch to the dog park, exploring your local national park or just pounding the pavements for daily exercise, both your dog and your fitness levels will thank you for it. And to really look after your dog’s fitness and well-being choose biology-based nutrition to help them live their best life every day.
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