Visiting Coleton Fishacre with your dog

Our pawprint rating system

We’ve been working on making it easier for you to find out how dog-friendly your visit will be before you and your four-legged friend arrive. To help with this, we've created a new pawprint rating system and given all the places in our care a rating. You can find this information in the National Trust members’ handbook.

Coleton Fishacre is a three pawprint rated place.

Three pawprints shows the very best places you can visit for a day with your dog. You’ll be able to take your dog to most areas, including indoors for a cup of tea and a treat. There’ll be clearly signed dog zones and dog-friendly experiences. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

Where can my dog go?

Well behaved dogs on short leads are welcome throughout the garden at Coleton Fishacre, as well as inside the café and shop.

Please remember to keep dogs on their leads at all times, stick to the paths and keep them under close control, so you can clearly see your dog at all times and not allow them to approach other visitors without their consent.

Where can't my dog go?

Assistance dogs are allowed in the house.

What do I need to be aware of at Coleton Fishacre?

We've partnered with a local company Forthglade and produced the Canine Code to help both visitors enjoy spending time with their dogs at special places.

The Canine Code

We’ve worked with our partner Forthglade to come up with this Canine Code, which helps to make sure everyone can enjoy their day:

• Keep them close: using a short lead helps to keep your dog from disturbing ground-nesting birds and farm animals. It's essential to use a short lead around sheep. But if cattle approach you, it's best to let your dog off the lead, and call them back when it's safe to do so.
• Pick up the poo: please always clear up after your dog. If you can't find a bin nearby, take the poo bags home with you.
• Watch the signs: keep an eye on local signs and notices wherever you're walking. They'll tell you if a beach has a dog ban, for instance, or if a path has been diverted, or if you're in an area where dogs can run off-lead.
• Stay on the ball: remember that not everyone loves dogs, and some people fear them. So make sure your dog doesn't run up to other people, especially children.

Keeping control of your dog

Our definition of close or effective control is: ​

• Being able to recall your dogs in any situation at the first call
• Being able to clearly see your dog at all times (not just knowing they have gone into the undergrowth or over the crest of the hill). In practice, this means keeping them on a footpath if the surrounding vegetation is too dense for your dog to be visible
• Not allowing them to approach other visitors without their consent
• Having a lead with you to use if you encounter livestock or wildlife, or if you are asked to use one

What facilities are available for my dog?

There are water bowls and waste bins located in the main courtyard where the shop, café and toilet facilities are.

The shop is stocked with pet essentials and accessories, and in the summer the café serves doggie ice cream. If you’d like a memento of your visit, why not pick up a Pooch Passport from the team at visitor reception, where you can record your dog’s days out.

Coastal walks

There's a number of countryside car parks located near Coleton Fishacre, which all connect to the South West Coast Path. Venture with your dog to secluded beaches, military monuments and more.