Dog owners looking to visit Wiltshere for a late summer caravan break may be disappointed to learn that Longleat Estate has moved to ban dogs from the immediate vicinity of some of the key animal attractions.
The decision means that dogs will not be allowed in the formal gardens, while the Main Square will also be off-limits for dog walkers.
In reaction to the decision, the Caravan Club has said that it is looking into how it can resolve the issue, as caravan owners have valued the freedom of dog walking on the estate for many years.
As we revealed earlier this month in our latest readers’ poll, dogs are seen as an invaluable part of a caravan holiday to many ‘van owners, with 74 per cent saying that caravan parks without dogs are boring.
Longleat has defended its decision, saying that it is primarily for “animal welfare reasons”, as aggressive dogs can often cause “panic and distress” to the estate’s animals, in particular the birds of prey as they often see dogs as a threat.
A spokesman for the Wiltshere attraction said: “We will continue to work with the Caravan Club to come up with the best possible solution so that visitors can continue to enjoy the attractions and the dog walking areas around the Longleat Estate.”
He added that the area affected is only a small part of the estate and the move was necessary as several new attractions were being opened.
Touring holidaymakers looking to visit Longleat can stay at the Caravan Club’s nearby Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park.
