Top 5 Dog Friendly Attractions on the Isle of Wight

So many places will allow dogs to visit with you whilst you’re on holiday on the Isle of Wight, and our attractions are no exception. We’ve picked our top five pooch-friendly attractions, but check out the others too as most will welcome well-behaved dogs on leads.

You can pose your dog in photographs where he’ll appear as a giant dog visiting well-known locations around the Isle of Wight such as the Old Village in Shanklin at Model Village in Godshill. And your dog might be very interested in their beautiful bonsai-style miniature trees that have been lovingly teased into smaller versions of themselves – luckily they’re mostly behind fences! They just ask that you keep your dog on a short lead, be mindful of other visitors who may not like dogs, and clear up if necessary using bins provided around the garden. Doggie water can be found by the Nammet Hut and near the exit from the garden.

To travel with your dog on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway you have to purchase an All-Day Rover (ha ha) ticket, which for your dog is £3 for a standard and £6 for first class. Your dog must be kept on a short lead at all times and dogs are conveyed subject to the safety and comfort of other passengers, and at the Railway's discretion. Bear in mind that there may be whistles and hoots from the train for your dog to deal with during your journey. But hopefully all will be calm as you travel back in time to the Victorian and Edwardian era on these beautifully restored engines and carriages as they chuff their way through the countryside. There are also fields and woodland around the attraction where you might like to take your dog for a walk.

Walk with your dog (on a lead) down the steep steps to the large pebbled beach beneath the Landmark Needles Attraction and you can see the coloured sands of Alum Bay and wander along the beach with your best friend. And although you cannot take your dog with you on the chairlift the pleasure cruises from here to the Needles rocks will allow your dog on for free. Back at the top of the cliff your dog is welcome in any of the outdoor areas such as the fairground and outdoor café tables, but only assistance dogs are permitted into the sand filling shop, the gift shop, the sweet factory or the glassworks. Bear in mind that if you attend on a Thursday evening throughout August there are fireworks at the end of the night and your dog definitely won’t appreciate those.

There are acres of parkland and woods for you and your dog to roam at Robin Hill but you do still need to have your dog on a lead, especially in the woods where there are red squirrels and other wildlife. It’s also advised to keep your dog behind the clearly marked signs when the falconry displays happen at two different locations at the attraction, but you can still watch. Wander down to the ponds and feed the hungry fish from the hanging bridges – your dog will be very amused. There are loads of places to explore with your dog at Robin Hill and they even supply free poop scoops for you to clean up after them.

Carisbrooke Castle welcome dogs on short leads everywhere apart from the museum – you can even take them into the well house to see the donkeys bring up the buckets of water from the depths. And you can walk the ramparts and up the steep steps to the keep, but do be careful and mindful of others. There’s a pretty Princess Beatrice Garden designed by celebrity gardener Chris Beardshaw where you can walk with your dog and sit beneath the shady trees. And to the rear of the castle is a huge bowling green where they have jousting tournaments in the summer months, where your dog is also welcome – on a lead of course.