Dougal's Dog Blog. Entry 15: Meathop Fell, Cumbria

Hi Douglas

 Love to read your blog, you must get the human that you own to take you to Clumber Park club site it realy is doggy heaven, our dog Digby gives it 5 bones out of 5 he love it there. 

Yes, it's a great little blog, friendly and fun!

Hello Brue! Hello John!

Thanks for the tip John. Funnily enough we are planning a trip to a rally in the Lakes in August, and we are meeting up with some Dutch caravanners in Dover and leading them up. I think I shall start pawing the page of Clumber Park in the Sites Directory while wagging my tail and see if the Human takes the hint. It may be on the 'wrong' side of the country for our route, but I think one of the Dutch Tin Cans on Wheels is as long as an articulated lorry, so Clumber's easy access from the A1 would be just the ticket. Great idea, thanks!

I'm looking forward to meeting my Dutch Doggy friends. I'm even learning to bark in Dutch: Het oueouff, oueouff! 

Prima.

Hi Dougal - thanks for the report & love the photo, you must get an agent to make sure you get your fair dues in bones & toys for putting in all this hard work!  Our humans took us to Meathop Fell at Easter this year, we loved the site and Grange over Sands with its great promenade for walkies and there are lots of benches where people were sitting so we got our fair share of admiration and pats from them all.  We agree with you that the dog walk area is not really very good, wish there was one on site behind the toilet block for a quick game of fetch!  We are off to the north lakes shortly so will compare.  Your adoring fans, Skye & Iona x.

Thanks for the update Skye and Iona. We've just got back from a rally in the Lakes but didn't stop at Clumber in the end, as the Dutch were non-members and by the time you added the non-member fee the cost for them was prohibitive :(

The Human That I Own wanted to name me after HIS favourite Hebridean island, but he couldn't see himself standing at the edge of a field shouting 'South Uist! South Uist! Come here...' So instead I'm named after a Westie in a red jumper that he met on a CalMac ferry.

It could be worse. He could have called me Ben. Ben Becula.

Love the photos, we are fair swooning at them all , our two humans took us to Castlerigg Hall Caravan & Camping Park near Keswick for 10 days at august BH, weather was not good, we kept getting muddy and having to be washed and dried - we thought we were the bees knees and so did the Westie down the slope.  My owner kept going very red in the face each time I waved my bottom in his direction (Human owner - does rather stifle the conversation) but would only give this site 2 bones out of ten for pooches, dog exercise areas very small, smelly and very wet.  We like Keswick though as all the shops, cafe & restaurant & pubs welcome us like royallty - we could rather get to used to this you know!  We have politely pawed the handbook enough at the page for Troutbeck Head CC site for our next trip - a little further from Keswick but equal distance between there and Ullswater and our favourite spot at Glenridding where we can swim and play to our hearts content.  Your adoring no. 1 fans, Skye & Iona

As  humans we enjoy this site and have visited in October half term for the last 3 years with some friends who have a son the same age as ours (14). The recent improvements to the toilet block are very nice indeed. And it's a great base for exploring tha lakes and easy to access. When we had our Labrador (sadly he died last year) we did find the designated dog walk as you describe it but the wardens at the time gave us details of a place nearby  - but you would have to go by car - where the dogs could have a run around without getting too near the roadway which I thought  was the main problem at Meathop Fell. So if you need a better area to have a run just ask the very helpful wardens for direction (I've forgotten them!).

Been to this site twice in the Oct half term break - great place.

Easy to get to off the motorway and a brilliant way to find if your outfit is matched when you go up the slope.... :-) 

Anyone visiting I would strongly suggest and recommend :-

Higginsons in Grange - a PROPER Butchers and the pies....simply to die for.

Meathop Grange - the hotel behind the site - dinner is thoroughly recommended as a treat, and they do good beer a well.

You know what, all this talk we just might book again for October....

Visit and enjoy.

I would just like to say a big thanks to Dougal for all the information about where is best for us to stay. I too go with my humans for holidays in the caravan ( yes I know what it's called ) I get really excited everytime they mention that word. I wait patiently by the car, while they go in and out of my home, just in case they forget me but of course they never do. We've have just had a good time at Low Moor near a place called Whitby and Sandsend where there is a beach that I go on and can chase pebbles along the sand and have my annual swim-Great! The site has a good walkies area- all woods it is lovely and clean too although there are plenty of good smells. I do miss chasing my frisby though but am quite happy walking round on my lead and meeting lots of different people who all make a fuss of me. Well must go now as am ready to woof at my Mum to let me out in the garden. Bye for now Skye (I'm a German Shepherd and a lady to boot)

What a pity that you didn't venture further than the doggie facilities.  The Woodland Hotel which is a short walk from the site is great for an evening drink and Grange-over-Sands is a lovely place to visit - although we had trouble with the sands bit as there is no beach! I agree that the Higginsons Pie Shop is well worth going to - we came back with some for our freezer. There is also a lovely little garden centre next to the car park in Grange so we came back laden with plants for the garden as well!  Also worth visiting in the are are:  Cartmel, Levens Hall and Sizegh Castle.  Do go back for a longer visit.