Manchester named one of the best UK cities for dog walks this spring

Manchester has been named one of the best UK cities for dog walking this spring.

As the sun shines and the flowers bloom, dog owners across the UK looking for perfect spring walking locations should head to Manchester, according to some new research which has ranked the city among Britain’s best destinations for dog-friendly spring strolls.

Pet-sitting platform TrustedHousesitters analysed a range of factors including dog-friendly venues, trail ratings, walkability scores, access to green spaces, and even the average April rainfall.

And Manchester came in at number five.

Our city particularly excelled when it came to walkability, with a perfect 100/100 score, as well as rating highly for its access to nature, with 20.42% of the city dedicated to green space.

Despite the higher average April rainfall (68.36mm), which let’s be honest, is hardly a shock to us all, even if the weather has been particularly glorious in recent weeks, Manchester’s combination of excellent urban green spaces and strong trail ratings (4.2/5) helped to secure its top five position.

Manchester is also home to an impressive 117 dog-friendly pubs, restaurants, and cafes too, meaning dog walkers and their furry friends will be spoilt for choice when choosing somewhere to unwind after their springtime stroll.

Bristol, Nottingham, Brighton, and Edinburgh were the other four cities to make up the top five list, meaning Manchester is the only northern city to feature.

“Giving your pup a chance to explore new paths and experience new scent trails, sceneries, and different terrain is great for their active minds,” explains Dr Lily Richards, who is veterinary surgeon.

“A good walking trail has lots of opportunities to rest out of the heat and in the shade, as well as wide paths, no steep cliffs, and soft surfaces to prevent paw injuries.”

While taking in nature is beneficial for owners and their pooches alike, Dr Richards does encourage pet owners to avoid stoney or boggy areas, due to the risk of injury or environmental diseases.

“After your walk, remember to wash off any mud for disease prevention and check for ticks to prevent tick-borne diseases such as Lymes disease, babesiosis, and rocky mountain fever,” Dr Richards continued.

Read more:

• Mancs willing to give rescue dogs a forever home needed for new Channel 4 series
• Five beautiful blossom filled walks to try this spring in and around Greater Manchester
• Manchester city centre to be filled with fresh blooms as the annual Flower Festival returns

She also advised owners to “be aware of grassy or wooded areas with lots of leaf litter where natural dangers or predators can lie”.

Featured Image – Hiro Takashima (via Unsplash)