Steph and the Spaniels visit Wales

'Never leaving the dogs behind' is something we're very passionate about, and so adventuring and exploring with Severus and Lily, our cocker spaniels, is what we love!

Knowing that Wales is full of wonderful walks, pretty lakes and so many places to explore it has been on our list to visit.

Here we're sharing some of our favourite dog-friendly places to visit when holidaying in North Wales.

Please be a responsible dog walker and follow the Countryside Code. For safe and happy walks with your dog, and to avoid causing problems for others, Natural Resources Wales also has a Dog Walking Code. Diolch!

Of course Wales is known for the stunning waterfalls, so finding some close was a must. The wonderful hike up Ceunant Mawr Falls is stunning, and even better with the autumn leaves changing to stunning orange and yellows. The walk makes its way close to the Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) train and sees amazing views over the Eryri (Snowdonia) mountains.

Finding the bottom of the falls with the water rushing past was lovely, and of course the spaniels couldn't help but have a little paddle before capturing the beauty with a (fur) family photo.

We knew we wanted to climb Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) from the start, finding the best day to do it on our trip and the route came with further planning.

The day we picked was a mix of clear and over cast, and being in October meant it was a cool (but not cold) day. We walked the Snowdon Ranger route, due to it being slightly quieter, Sev and Lily stayed on lead the whole walk, but we still had a great time!

The whole trail, up and down, took us around 6.5 hours with a quick stop at the summit.

Severus and Lily have tried water sports before, and it's something we always love doing when on holiday. Llyn Tegid is stunning, with views of gorgeous mountains and other lakes nearby to explore too. The dogs donned their life jackets too, and we paddled on the lake all afternoon. Of course, being spaniels, they were keen to jump in for a swim on the way back, and loved the adventure as much as we did.

When the dogs travel with us, having self-catering facilities are always useful and usually much needed with two crazy spaniels. However, we do like to try out different places to eat and drink when on holiday too.

Jollys is a cafe and patisserie with views that overlook the Anglesey coast and onto the mountains. The cakes were particularly yummy, the coffee was much needed and the dogs were made very welcome. A water bowl was offered without even asking and the dogs enjoyed many fusses and strokes as people walked past.

The perfect mix of cafe and restaurant, from Sunday roast to evening drinks, The Pier House is a great place for you and your dog. With more wonderful views, many outside seating areas but also welcoming dogs inside too. Our breakfast was amazing, and somewhere we'd recommend to anyone visiting the area.

A lovely cafe we visited after finding the waterfalls, Llygad yr Haul was a great pit-stop for lunch with amazing sandwiches and hot chocolate to keep us warm. The dogs are allowed in the courtyard area, which is covered for rainy days too. Very close to a Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) path, they also offer a 'Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)' breakfast, which would be a great way to start the day... even if you do decide to take the train.

Bringing your hounds on holiday to Wales? Find dog friendly accommodation using our search facility.

Read more of our adventures over on the Steph and the Spaniels blog.