Woof! The Country has gone to the Dogs!

Bernard: anyone for shots?

As the excitement of this week’s budget wears off and the EU referendum debate enters its final 100 days, it’s hard not feel envy towards the country’s dogs who live in blissful ignorance of such matters. Indeed the dog world has been focused on last weekend’s Crufts, the largest dog show in the world. Or in the case of the contestants, the after show plate of sausages. Whether you are a dog owner or not, it is clear the dog has an important place in society which is celebrated in different ways around the world. If you want to see how other cultures celebrate the dog, then these are your must see destinations.

Chateaux Chillon: not made out of chocolate 

Famed mountain dogs the St Bernard originate from the region of the same name in Switzerland. Renown mountain rescue dogs, they even have a museum dedicated to them in Martigny which is in the spectacular Valais region of Switzerland. Fortunately the St Bernard Pass is a road over the Alps to Italy rather than the contents of one of its namesakes.

GET THERE: The Valais region is best accessed from Geneva which is served by flights from across the UK. If not driving then use Switzerland’s clinically efficient train system to travel the length of Lake Geneva to stunning Montreux which is well worth a stop and is home to Chateaux Chillon. Martigny is the next main town on the road which turns off to ski resort Verbier or continues towards Zermatt, home to the mighty Matterhorn.

Mush-y please: The dogs are after Rudolph’s job

If you prefer dogs as a form of transport in cold weather then you cannot go wrong with a dog sledding experience. Traditionally found in snowy environments, you can experience this in Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia amongst many others but for a trip with a difference, try Iceland. The country not the shop. In summer you can visit the Langjokull glacier during the day or day (it’s the land of the midnight sun during the summer) by husky power. 

GET THERE: Fly to Reykjavik from a number of UK Airports. The 3 hour flight makes this an ideal short break destination with the city itself worth visiting along with the famous Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. The Langjokull Glacier is accessible as a day trip from Reykjavik but leave the summer clothes behind - summer or not, it is still a large chunk of ice covered in snow!

De la Seoul: Me, Myself and lots of dogs.

The concept of the Cat Cafe is of course now well established but the Bau House cafe in Seoul, South Korea has put dogs on the menu. Not literally, of course but it has created an environment where you can spend some time with various varieties of pooch. Reviews suggest you really need to be a dog fan for this one as it can get, how can I put this, rather aromatic inside. There is plenty more to see in this small country from high tech in Samsung-centric Seoul to spectacular scenery and mountains in the countryside which will host the 2018 Winter Olympics.

GET THERE: Seoul is accessible daily from London (make sure you book to South Korea) and makes an alternative stopover on the way to Australasia. It can be twinned with a trip to neighbouring Japan (to compare the cat cafes?) to which it is linked by air and sea (from southern Busan port).

Point Bark: Who let the dogs out at Surf City? 

If you prefer your dogs outside and active in warm weather then the only place to go is the town of Huntington Beach in California. The unsurprisingly named Dog Beach hosts an annual dog surfing competition in the last week of September. Hilariously described as 'surfing unleashed' and 'doggone fun’ it certainly draws in the crowds. Fortunately there are a number of other beaches nearby for you to go swimming afterwards and these ones even have surfing classes for humans.

GET THERE: Huntington Beach is south of Los Angeles in Orange County. Handy for Disneyland too. Or should that be the other other way round? Take one of the daily flights to Los Angeles, visit the theme parks then hire a car and explore California. Keep heading south for San Diego or north to San Francisco.

Keen to unleash yourself into the World and need more ideas? Please visit my Website and Facebook page and follow me on Twitter.

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Barking up the right tree!

David Sutherland
EyeLine Travel (ABTA L3832)

18 March 2016