Visiting Cotehele with your dog

Frequently asked questions regarding dogs

• Why are we running a trial for dogs in the garden?

  We are increasingly hearing from our supporters that they would like to take their dogs into more National Trust places, and as part of our trial in the South West we're exploring where this might be possible.

  Not all places in the South West are taking part in this trial, so it's still best to check individual property web pages for dog visiting information for individual sites.

• Why are dogs not allowed in some areas of the garden?

  During the planning stages of our trial we've listened to feedback from supporters, staff and volunteers as well as learnt how other National Trust sites provide access to dogs in the garden.

  For the first stage of our trial at Cotehele, we're continuing to only allow assistance dogs within the Cut Flower Garden, Valley Garden, Old Orchard and Mother Orchard to protect the biodiversity and delicate flowers within these areas of the garden. We appreciate how much families love playing on our lawns, so ask for dogs to not be taken onto any of the grass areas within the garden. You can collect a map showing where you can and cannot go with your dog from Visitor Welcome when you arrive, as well as signs throughout the garden.

• How will you decide if the trial is a success? Will dog access continue after the trial?

  We will be evaluting the success of the trial in a number of ways, including visitor numbers, visitor feedback and repeat visits. We will also be gathering feedback from our staff and volunteers. We will use this data to inform what future dog access could look like at Cotehele.

• What if I/my family are scared/allergic to dogs, or want a dog-free visit?

  We are asking that all dogs are kept on a short lead and on the gravel paths at all times whilst visiting the garden. We have carefully thought about where we are allowing dogs at Cotehele, this includes continuing to keep some areas such as the Mother Orchard, Old Orchard, Cut Flower Garden and Valley Garden dog-free except for assistance dogs.

  If you would like to avoid dogs, you can search for dog-free places on the National Trust website (excluding assistance dogs).

• How will you be managing dog poo?

  We are asking dog owners to take responsibility for their dog an to pick up their dog's poo. If owners have forgotten to bring a bag, we have free poo bags available from Visitor Welcome.

  As part of the trial we are not installing additional bins in the garden for dog waste. The nearest dog waste bin to the garden can be found just outside the toilets by the Barn Cafe on the estate path. Alternatively we do encourage all owners to take their dog waste home with them.

• What types of leads will be allowed?

  Visitors will be asked to keep their dogs on a short, fixed length lead at all times whilst visiting the garden. We have short leads available to borrow from Visitor Welcome if needed.

• Should I keep my dog on a lead whilst visiting the wider estate?

  Whilst visiting the wider estate we ask for dogs to be kept under close at all times and that paws should remain on estate paths. You may find that at times you may be asked by the Cotehele team, visitors and other dogs owners to put your dog on a lead - please respect this as some people and other dogs may be nervous around dogs.

• How do I give feedback on the trial?

  We'd love to hear from you about the trial whether your a dog owner or not. You can give feedback via our online visitor survey, comment cards on site or by emailing us via cotehele@nationaltrust.org.uk. Your feedback is really important to us and will help inform our decisions on how Cotehele can be more dog-friendly going forward.