At Dog Owners Guide, community has always been at the heart of everything we do. Not just finding great places to eat, stay and explore with dogs, but bringing people together and supporting the places and organisations that truly matter.
That’s why we’re proud to be partnering with Mountbatten Isle of Wight.
Who are Mountbatten?
Mountbatten is the Isle of Wight’s local hospice, providing expert end of life care and support to people across the island (my home town).
But what they do goes far beyond what many people expect.
They support people living with life-limiting illnesses, not just in their final days, but often for months or even years. Their care extends to families too, offering bereavement support, counselling, and guidance through incredibly difficult times. Much of their work happens out in the community, in people’s homes, helping individuals stay in familiar surroundings with dignity and comfort.
It’s a service that touches so many lives on the island – often quietly, but in the most meaningful way 🌻
Our First Dog Walk + Coffee Club
We hosted our very first Dog Walk + Coffee Club on Sunday 19th April and it set the tone for exactly what we want this to become.
Dog Walk + Coffee Club is designed to be a relaxed, social way for dog owners to meet, explore and grab a coffee together. A relaxed, guided route to follow, with plenty of time to chat, take it in, and enjoy some time with your dog alongside like-minded people.
It’s not just about one walk. It’s about building a wider community of dog owners, with more walks, coffee dates and events across the UK.
For this first one, we followed a planned coastal route, around 45 minutes in each direction along the beach. It was the perfect chance to make the most of it before restrictions come in from 1st May, when dogs aren’t allowed on certain parts of the beach. We stopped off halfway at PO41 for coffee and pup cups (one of my favourite coffee shops). The team are always so welcoming and kindly offered free pup cups in exchange for a donation to Mountbatten. It gave everyone a chance to pause, have a quick chat and let the dogs have a break before heading back.
“We were so grateful to see so many people turn up and support the dog walk – it was such a lovely atmosphere and a real joy to be part of. Bringing people (and their dogs) together in this way is a brilliant way to raise awareness of Walk the Wight and the vital work Mountbatten does and to encourage people to get involved in their own way"
You can support this fantastic cause by donating through our fundraising link. Every contribution makes a real difference and we genuinely really appreciate it!
Walk the Wight
Our partnership continues at Walk the Wight on 10th May 2026, the Island’s biggest and most well-known fundraising event.
The full route is around 26.5 miles, taking you right across the Isle of Wight from east to west. It’s a proper challenge, but you don’t have to do it all – there are shorter options and half routes available, so you can take part in a way that suits you and your dog.
We did the first half back in 2023 with our two pugs and it’s the option we’d recommend – especially if you’re bringing a dog. You can start earlier in the day (from 6am), to avoid the midday heat. I would recommend being flexible though, as it’s quite an open route with a lot of up and down, so it can feel much warmer than you expect. Keep an eye on the weather and don’t be afraid to do it without your dog if it’s set to be too hot.
The atmosphere is brilliant, there’s a real sense of community throughout the day, and it’s all in support of Mountbatten.
Weather permitting, around 1,000 dogs usually take part, which says everything 🐾
If you’re travelling over, Wightlink are offering 20% off ferry travel for Walk the Wight, and we’d highly recommend making the trip over for it.
You don’t need to be taking part in Walk the Wight to get involved.
Dog Owners Guide will be set up at Bembridge and Freshwater, so feel free to come and say hello 👋🏼 We’ll confirm timings soon, but Freshwater is likely the best spot as it’s later in the day and has a great atmosphere as walkers come through.
We’ll also be running a doggy pic’n’mix with Naturo Natural Pet Food. Come and fill a bag with treats for your dog and leave a donation for Mountbatten.
Looking Ahead
This is just the start of our partnership with Mountbatten.
We’ll be continuing to host more community meet-ups and fundraising initiatives throughout the year – all designed to bring people together while supporting an incredible cause. Don’t forget, you can support this fantastic cause by donating through our fundraising link. We appreciate each and every donation, big or small.
Because this is what Dog Owners Guide is really about. Not just finding great places – but building a community around them ☺️
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