Driving with Dogs FAQs
Where did the idea of Driving with Dogs come from?
Basically, the M40! Driving to London in the Summer of 2006 we were held up by traffic, and at the time Jem was just 12 weeks old. After nearly 45 minutes of sitting in near stationary traffic the pup was desperate to get out of the hot car, and so were we! There were woods and fields alongside the road, but we couldn't get at them. We also realised that even if we had been able to get off the motorway, we didn't know whether there were any rights of way into the countryside.
How do you test the walks?
Last year we spent most of our holidays on the road researching the walks. We decide which motorway to cover, and then plan the walks for each day. We've walked all the walks on the site, and quite a few more as well - because what looks fine for dogs on the map often isn't a good walk when you actually get there.
Are the walks suitable for off-lead walking?
This depends entirely on you and your dog. When we test the walks Jem is off the lead, but all dogs have different levels of obedience and it's impossible to say that all walks are suitable for all dogs to run free. We do check for potential hazards carefully, and avoid anything that may be potentially dangerous to dogs.
Do you make any money out of the website?
No - it has cost us a lot more than we expected! So if you'd like to sponsor a walk, sponsor the whole site, or advertise on the site we'd be delighted.
Can I contribute a walk?
Yes. Your walk doesn't have to be off a motorway, it can be anywhere that dogs can enjoy a good romp.
What are the criteria for the motorway walks?
Each walk has to be within 5 miles of a motorway exit, with off-road parking that's easy to find for a stranger to the area. Ideally there will also be a pub or cafe where dogs are welcomed. The walk itself must be on signed public footpaths and on an uncomplicated route for walkers without maps to follow. The length of walk is typically 30-45 minutes, or 2-3 miles.
Which is your favourite walk?
Lezli : – that's a really hard question!! On the M1, then definitely Scholes Wood at Junction 35. And on the M25 there were some really good walks, particularly Junction 9 – Ashstead Common. The M42 Junction 1 was amazing too, the Lickey Hills.
David : - I think that my absolute favourite walk is at Daisy Nook Country Park (M60 junctions 22 and 23) because I wasn't expecting anything like it. In the midst of an urban area, it is a charming place to visit. It's not large, but perfect in its own way.
Which is your least favourite motorway junction?
It has to be the M1 Junction 28 … although the M6 Junction 1 comes a close second. These are both junctions where none of the planned walks has worked. So far on M1/28 we've once ended up in an industrial estate that wasn't marked on the map, another attempt saw Jem perilously close to a busy railway line, and the third try ended in parking trauma as we tried to negotiate a busy dual carriageway to get to a footpath. There has to be a walk there somewhere though!
Why are there no walks in Scotland?
We're hoping to complete the walks in Scotland this summer, and get them online as quickly as we can.
How does Jem cope with so much travelling?
Fortunately Jem loves the car, and gets really excited when his travel harness is put on for a long journey. He also seems to like hotels, and adapts well to new environments. He's a very inquisitive dog and seems to thrive on new scents and places. He does like to have all his normal belongings with him, so he usually travels with more luggage than we do!