Visiting the Surrey Hills with your dog

Dog walking at Dunstable Downs Bedfordshire

The Surrey Hills is a fantastic place to bring your dog for a walk. There are a huge number of paths and open spaces for you and your four-legged friend to explore.

Where can my dog go?

We welcome dogs in all parts of the Surrey Hills countryside that the National Trust cares for*. 

Some fields are home to cattle and sheep. Please keep your dog on a lead if livestock are in the field; but we recommend, if cattle approach you, to let your dog off the lead.

Please check fences and gates for notices of livestock grazing where you are walking.

If you're walking with your dog between 1 March and 31 July, please look out for restricted dog-walking areas, particularly on heathland sites when ground-nesting birds raise their young. 

Dartford Warbler sitting on yellow gorse with a moth in its beak

Help us protect our ground nesting birds 

Not all our birds like to build their nests safely high up in the trees. Discover more about our ground-nesting birds and how you can help to keep them from harm. Please help us to protect these birds by sticking to the paths and keeping your dog on a lead and close to you from 1 March to 31 July. 

Please keep your dog under close control. Our definition of close 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, wildlife or you are asked to use one.
Walking at Reigate Hill, Surrey
Two people with three dogs running on a hill in the sunshine, Reigate Hill, Surrey
Walking at Reigate Hill, Surrey

What do I need to be aware of in the Surrey Hills?

Follow the Canine Code:

  • Take the lead: help reduce the chance of your pup disturbing wildlife by keeping them on a lead.
  • Scoop that poop: bag it and bin it to keep your favourite places beautiful. 
  • Paws for thought: look out for information signs.
  • Be on the ball: not everyone loves dogs, so keep them close by.

 

Facilities available for my dog

Most National Trust sites in the Surrey Hills have dog waste bins. Please do use them. Dog waste can be very damaging to both the environment and people’s health.

Please do not hang dog waste bags in the trees.

" Cars can get very hot inside - even in the shade on a cloudy day. Please don't leave your four-legged friend in the car"
- National Trust

*Places in the Surrey Hills that the National Trust cares for; Box Hill, Limpsfield Common, Harewoods, Reigate Hill and Gatton Park, Leith Hill Countryside, Headley Heath, Denbies Hillside, Hindhead Commons and the Devil’s Punch Bowl, Frensham Little Pond, Hydon’s Ball and Heath, Abinger Roughs, Witley and Milford Commons, Holmwood Common and Bookham Commons.

Natural England offer additional advice about bringing your dog into the countryside which can be found on their website.