Ely Dogs Activity Meadows

If you've got a dog and you're staying anywhere near Cambridge, Ely Dogs Activity Meadows is worth a proper detour. It's a dedicated space where your pooch can actually run about properly - not one of those depressing little fenced corners you find at some parks, but real meadows with room to move. The whole point is letting dogs burn off energy while you get a bit of peace, so it's ideal if you're camping nearby at Chittering Park or Heatherbield Lodge.

What you get is straightforward: open grassland, space for fetch, and generally other dogs to play with if your lot is social. There's no complex setup needed - just turn up and let them loose. The meadows themselves are genuinely nice, flat and easy to walk around in, though bring wellies if it's been wet; this is Cambridgeshire fen country and it holds water. Allow an hour minimum, though dogs being dogs you'll probably stay longer once they've started playing.

Perfect for families who've got a dog that goes stir-crazy after a day of driving or sightseeing. It's the sort of place you use strategically - not as a main attraction but as a proper release valve during a holiday. The nearby caravan sites at Fen End Farm and Hempsall Farm are within easy reach too, so you can slot this into an afternoon without too much faffing about. Free to access, no nonsense, and your dog will absolutely love you for it.