There's nothing better than finding a hidden gem in the UK - and with the help of travel writer Lottie Gross, you'll now know five.
Lottie is the owner of two-year-old Manchester terrier Arty, and together the pair have been on a number of nationwide adventures to find the very best dog-friendly spots.
Lottie told The Mirror: "My favourite part about travelling with Arty is seeing the world through his eyes. Going to the beach and climbing mountains, it all takes on another dynamic when you've got a dog.
"I also love the conversations you have with new people and how approachable it makes you. Often when you travel solo, you might not talk to anyone in a day but with Arty I always do."
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Lottie's number one packing essential is a Dicky Bag - a little waterproof pouch that you clip onto a bag or belt buckle which acts as a portable bin.
"It means you don't have to carry the poo bag in your hand and you also won't leave it behind. I've had poo-free walks for the last five years!" Lottie said.
Lottie's new book Dog-Friendly Weekends was inspired by her first dog Milo, who was a "pretty terrible traveller ".
She explained: " We had some stressful trips that resulted in me thinking 'why hasn't anyone written a guide on how to do this?' - and so I did."
The following top five beaches have been taken from Lottie's Dog-Friendly Weekends.
Isles of Scilly, Cornwall
When: May - October
Highlights: White-sand beaches for lazy days in the sun, thrilling wildlife and abundant local seafood.
The Isles of Scilly are Britain's little bit of paradise. Much is said about the microclimate here – these low-lying islands, 55km off the Cornish coast, enjoy warmer, more reliable weather than the rest of the nation thanks to their location on the Gulf Stream – but they're spectacular in any conditions.
As long as you've got waterproofs and sunscreen, you can't go wrong with a weekend (or even a week) in this enchanting archipelago.
Anglesey, Wales
When: May - September
Highlights: Dreamy sandy beaches, fine fortresses and glorious seafood.
Hands down, Anglesey - a flattish island perched on the cusp of the northwest Welsh coastline, measuring just 45km by 33km - has some of the best views in Wales.
Not that it's got particularly dramatic scenery of its own, but from its fringes you can gaze back to the mainland to see some of the country's finest natural terrain.
Holkham & Wells, Norfolk
When: Year-round
Highlights: Wild nature, big beaches and seaside fun, from seal spotting to crabbing, plus ample walking trails on a glorious country estate.
Norfolk is Britain's 'big sky country' and nowhere is that more apparent than on the sands of Holkham Beach ( NR23 1RG) on the north Norfolk coast.
Walk through the pine forest that backs the beach and a vast golden landscape spreads out before you as you step on to the sand.
This area is part of the hugely important Holkham National Nature Reserve, home to myriad seabirds, lugworms and cockles beneath the sand.
It's a spectacular place to walk the dog (on the lead from April through August, to protect the ground-nesting little terns) - especially at sunrise.
Isle of Mull, Scotland
When: May - September
Highlights: Exploring the coast on thrilling boat trips, lazing on pristine beaches and savouring the astonishing local produce.
Separated from the mainland by the almost 30km-long Sound of Mull, Mull is a wonderfully remote and wild island off the west coast of Scotland.
It's not huge - measuring around 40km from north to south - but the variety of landscapes is impressive, with linen-white sandy beaches lining its coastline and towering munros with rocky peaks rising up in its centre.
Northern Northumberland
When: March - September
Highlights: A majestic seafront fortress, beaches that go on forever and spectacular island walks.
No matter from which angle you approach Bamburgh, its imposing castle really makes an impact.
Arriving from the village of Seahouses to the south, you round the corner with the grassy dunes on your right and fields to your left, and it just appears from around the bend, regal and red, its crenellations and keeps lording over the sea beyond.
There is no other word for it: it is simply magnificent.
To read more about each location, you can purchase Lottie's Dog-Friendly Weekends in all good bookshops.
Listen to Lottie talk about her favourite UK hotspots at DogFest Tatton Park, Belvoir Castle and Knebworth House.
Do you have a dog story to sell? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
