Discover more at Ardress House
Find out when Ardress House is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.
Visiting Ardress House with your dog
Your four-legged friends are welcome at Ardress House, with plenty of sights and smells to explore around the estate.
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.
Ardress House is a one pawprint rated place.
Dogs are welcome here on leads, but facilities are limited. They’ll be able to stretch their legs in the car park and walk in the nearby open spaces, depending on the season. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.
Where can my dog go?
Ardress House welcomes dogs but ask for them to be kept on leads throughout the grounds and gardens. Ardress House does not have a dedicated dog exercise area. We do ask that you keep an eye on your dog and are conscious of other dogs and their owners that may be in the area. We also ask that you clean up after your dog if they foul in the area.
Where can't my dog go?
Dogs are not allowed inside the house and are not currently permitted in the farmyard, with the exception of assistance dogs. Water bowls are located in the courtyard and toilet block, and outdoor seating is available in the farmyard.
What facilities are available for dogs?
I have forgotten my dog’s lead, what can I do?
We may be able to help. Ask a member of staff at our welcome area if you have forgotten your dog’s lead. We may be able to offer you a spare. Please be aware leads may not always be available.
What can I do with my dog’s waste?
Help us to keep Ardress House a clean place for all our visitors to enjoy.
- Clear up after your dog, no matter where it may have fouled
- Dispose of your dog’s waste responsibly. Do not leave dog waste by the path side, throw bags into the grassland, or even worse hang in the trees
- Please clear up immediately if your dog fouls
- Waste can be disposed of in any general waste bin or at home.
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
Our partners
We've partnered with natural pet food maker Forthglade so that you and your dog can get even more out of the special places we care for.
You might also be interested in
Article
Visiting National Trust places with your dog
If you’re bringing your dog to the places we care for, here’s information on the Canine Code and pawprint rating system to plan your visit.
Article
How we're working with Forthglade for dog-friendly visits
We've partnered with natural pet food maker Forthglade to create the Dogs Welcome project, helping you and your dog to get the most out of the places in our care.
Article
Things to do at Ardress House
Step back in time and visit a 17th-century house with a traditional farmyard, fruitful orchard and farm animals to meet.
Dog-friendly places in Northern Ireland
With water bowls, hitching posts and plenty of ground to cover, the places in our care aren't just for history-loving hounds. The sandy beaches and woodland trails on offer are a dog-walker's dream. From dog exercise areas to dog-friendly accommodation, discover a slice of canine heaven when visiting with your four-legged friend.
Project
Project
The restoration of Frizzell's Cottage at Ardress House
Read about how the team at Ardress House carefully restored Frizzell’s Cottage, a grade B1 listed building.