Visiting The Weir Garden with your dog

Where can my dog go?

In 2023, we've introduced a 1-mile long waymarked walk through the parkland surrounding the gardens at The Weir, offering sweeping views of the River Wye and the surrounding Herefordshire countryside.

Dogs are welcome in all areas of the parkland and gardens at The Weir. There are several narrow paths throughout the riverside garden, and the parkland is home to sheep and cattle, so we ask that all dogs are kept on leads and under control at all times.

Where can't my dog go?

In order to protect the important wildlife at The Weir, please do not let your dog swim in the river.

The Weir Garden is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the variety of wildlife living in the River Wye. Dogs climbing in and out of the river cause erosion to the riverbank and can pollute the water with insecticides found in flea and tick treatement. For this reason, it is an offence to allow your dog to swim in the river, so please keep your dog on a lead and under control at all times.

Facilities available for my dog

There are dog waste bins near the toilets and at the end of the walk. Water bowls can be found at the welcome kiosk and by the toilets.

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