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Visiting Cotehele with your dog

Visitors walking dogs in the woodland at Blickling, Norfolk
Dog walkers exploring woodland | © National Trust Images/John Millar

There’s plenty of space for your dog to stretch their legs around the Cotehele grounds. There are miles of paths to explore through the woodland, countryside and around the quay, or just relax together in the Barn Restaurant or The Edgcumbe café.

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.

Cotehele 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?

Dogs are welcome to join you on the Cotehele estate, including the Barn Restaurant, Edgcumbe café, shop, plant centre and the Bull Pen Gallery. However, only assistance dogs are allowed in the house, garden and orchards.

There are more than a thousand acres of countryside to explore at Cotehele and lots of dog-friendly walks.

When should my dog be on the lead?

Dogs should be kept on the lead and under close control in the following areas: around the visitor facilities, in grazing areas when livestock are present, in the Barn Restaurant and The Edgcumbe café.

Elsewhere, dogs can roam off the lead if they are kept under close control.

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
Dog walking on the Holnicote Estate, Somerset
Visitors walking their dogs | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

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.

What facilities are available for my dog?

Water bowls

Dogs can get a refreshing drink of clean water outside the toilet blocks, visitor reception, Barn Restaurant, Edgcumbe café and mill buildings.

Dog waste bins

Dog waste bins can be found at the start of the estate walks at Visitor Reception, on the paths leading to Cotehele Mill and on the path from the quay car park leading to the Chapel-in-the-Woods.

Help keep Cotehele clean

Please use these for your dog waste bags or take them home. Leaving bags on paths, (or in trees), spoils the beauty of this special place and everyone’s enjoyment of it.

The rangers strim back growth around the walking routes at Cotehele, so please don’t flick poo into the grass at the side of paths, as it’s a health hazard.

What if my dog gets separated from me?

Call us on 01579 351346 and we’ll help reunite you.



Visitors exploring the garden in spring at Cotehele, Cornwall

Discover more at Cotehele

Find out when Cotehele is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.

Our partners

Forthglade

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.

Visit website 

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