Visiting Avebury with your dog

Visitors with two Jack Russell dogs at Flatford, Suffolk — Visitors with two Jack Russell dogs | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

No one wants to leave a family member at home, so well-behaved dogs are welcome at Avebury. There is plenty of space for your dog to exercise and enjoy the smells, sights and sounds of the countryside.

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.

Avebury is a two pawprint rated place.

These places have water bowls, dog bins and dog-friendly walks. You’ll be able to take your dog into some areas, but not everywhere.

If there’s a food and beverage outlet, you can have a cup of tea with them, probably outside.

Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

Where can my dog go at Avebury?

Dogs are welcome everywhere that we care for at Avebury, apart from the Circles Restaurant and Avebury Manor and Garden where only assistance dogs are allowed.

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.

Take extra care when walking in the stone circles where there are often sheep, and on the West Kennet Avenue where there are often cattle. Be sure to keep your dog on a lead and under close control at all times.

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?

You can buy doggy ice cream in the Circles restaurant and doggy treats at the shop.

Dog water bowls are available in the Old Farmyard and across the site.

Follow the Countryside Code

With more people than ever enjoying our coast and countryside places, we’re asking for your help in looking after them during your visit.

Please help us protect wildlife and landscapes by following the Countryside Code, which includes taking any litter home with you and not lighting a barbecue or campfire.

Find out more about the Countryside Code.