Travelling with Your Dog | Advice and Tips
June 25, 2018
7 Top Tips to make travelling with your dog that little bit easier
At West Country Parks we understand that dogs are an important part of the family and many of our visitors like to bring their furry friends along on their holidays - so
all of our Holiday Parks are dog-friendly and we welcome conscientious pet owners.
We also know that travelling with the family can sometimes be stressful so here are our top tips to make travelling with your dog that little bit easier for you all!
1. Pack some food for your pet
To prevent sickness, it is advised that you feed your pet no sooner than two hours before you travel. If your journey is long enough to cover a period of time that your pet would normally be fed, remember to take their regular food with you. If your dog is prone to car-sickness we suggest that you talk to your vet prior to travelling.
2. Exercise your pet before you leave
The more energy you can burn-off before you set-off, the more likely it is that your dog will be happy to rest for at least some of the journey!
3. Make sure that your pet is comfortable and secure before setting off
If not secured properly he/she could cause an unintentional distraction, endangering themselves and you whilst you are driving. Travelling down the M5 at 70 miles per hour is probably not the ideal time for Fido to clamber onto your lap!
4. Take plenty of water with you for rest stops
Your dog should always have access to water during your travels.
5. Take regular breaks
Much like young children, your pet should be allowed time to stretch, drink and go to the toilet throughout your journey. Always exercise your dog on a lead and make sure that they can’t escape when you get them out of the vehicle. And always have your poop-bags ready!
6. Never leave your dog alone in your vehicle on a warm or hot day
The RSPCA
advises that this can cause ‘distress and suffering and lead to the death of your pet’. A car can become extremely hot even when it doesn’t feel that warm outside. When it’s 22 degrees outside, it can reach an unbearable 47 degrees in your car in less than an hour - cracking the window open will not make the slightest bit of difference.
7. Make sure you can access your pets essential items
Pack the essentials for your pet and make sure that they are easy to access throughout your journey. We would recommend a water bowl, food, medications, poop-bags, a spare name-tag and collar with leash, towel, dog bed/blanket, favourite toy and of course - treats! Items that are familiar to your pet will help to keep them distracted, calm and relaxed.
We hope these tips make any upcoming holidays a little easier for both you and your pet! To find out more about our dog-friendly Holiday Parks please contact us.
Latest News
We are ecstatic to share that West Country Parks have been named the Hospitality and Tourism Business of the Year and Large Business of the Year at the prestigious Sedgemoor Business Excellence Awards 2025. These award categories honour businesses that deliver exceptional guest experiences and adapt to changing trends, and recognise large businesses that lead through innovation, communication and community impact. Businesses from across the region came together for an evening of celebration and recognition at this year’s Sedgemoor Business Excellence Awards, where local organisations of all sizes were honoured for their hard work, resilience and innovation. This year was the busiest to date, with more than 130 entries across all categories. The standard was exceptionally high and reflects the strength and diversity of Sedgemoor’s business community. Speaking about the awards, Roger Smith, General Manager at the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce, said; 'These awards really are the jewel in the Chamber’s crown, and this year was no exception, with more than 240 people coming together to celebrate our incredible local business community. Congratulations to all our finalists and winners. We look forward to continuing our work to connect, promote and support business, helping to ensure a thriving local economy.' We would like to thank our visitors, supporters and all of our fantastic team for your support.
We are delighted to share that Riverside Holiday Village has been named the Holiday Park of the Year and Dog Friendly Business of the Year at the Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards 2026, held at T he Apex City of Bath Hotel in Somerset. These award categories recognise 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, and providers of truly memorable experiences for dogs and their human companions. This year marks the second consecutive year that Riverside has won the coveted Holiday Park of the Year Gold Award. Nell Barrington, awards director at Services for Tourism Ltd, commented on the importance of the awards: “What I love most about these awards is that they give tourism businesses the recognition they deserve. So many of them work incredibly hard, often with little reward, and some are tiny teams or even just one person keeping everything going. Despite the challenges the sector continues to face, these businesses have shown excellence, innovation and resilience.” We would like to thank our visitors, supporters and all of our fantastic team for your support.
With the festive season fast approaching, there's plenty going on to keep our visitors entertained this winter here at Riverside Holiday Village .