Dog-friendly Elvington

A picture-postcard village inn dating from the 17th century, six miles south-east of York on the B1228 and listed as a child and dog friendly pub. Dogs are welcome inside, and there are picnic tables at the front for warmer afternoons. Close to the Yorkshire Air Museum and the Derwent bridge.

Three miles of flat field path and lane out of Elvington to the River Derwent and back, an hour and a quarter of gentle going with only about ten metres of climbing in the whole route. Start from Main Street in the village where there is roadside parking near the bridge, and the number 46 bus from York stops in Elvington; the Yorkshire Air Museum makes an obvious pairing for the drive. The riverbank gives dogs a drink and a shallow entry, the lanes are quiet enough for a good dog to walk loose, and there are no stiles, but the fields are worked and often have stock so keep the lead handy; the low-lying sections beside the Derwent hold water badly and this is a summer and autumn walk rather than a January one.

Britain's largest independent air museum, spread across 20 acres of the wartime RAF Elvington bomber base with hangars, a Halifax bomber and a woodland walk. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome across the site and in most exhibition areas, though not inside the cafe, the Astra cinema or the shop. Water is easy to come by and the airfield perimeter paths give a decent leg-stretch between hangars.