Workington to Harrington along the shore

Up from the little marina at Harrington through the streets to the nature reserve on Moorclose Road, round the two flower meadows, the Ellerbeck and the reservoir that locals call the Rezzer, then back down to the harbour and the sea wall. The reserve path is even and wheel-friendly and takes twenty minutes on its own; joined to the harbour it makes a proper short walk. Kingfishers use the beck and there are toads and dragonflies on the reservoir, which is why the council designates the reserve a dogs-on-lead area. Parking is a layby by the reserve entrance or the harbour itself.

An all-day cafe bar on Steelman's Walk in the middle of Workington, open from nine in the morning until eleven at night and midnight at weekends. The operator's own site lists the site as dog friendly without restricting it to one area, which makes it the most reliable indoor stop in the town for anyone walking a dog. Food runs all day, from breakfast through burgers, mezze bowls and toasties, and there is table service so you are not leaving a dog to queue at a counter.

A flat industrial-edge circuit north of Workington that is far better than it sounds: out on the old mineral railway embankment, now a cycle path, past the reedbed and two large ponds of Siddick Ponds SSSI, then west onto the Oldside slag banks and the open shore, and back along the coast. Siddick is one of Cumbria's most important bird sites, which is why the council designates it a dogs-on-lead area, and the reedbed edges are steep and soft. Access is free all year and parking at Dunmail Park is free.