For dog-walkers

Planning a day out with the dog? We've got a huge variety of dog-friendly places for you to explore with your pooch, from the best walking spots to holiday cottages that welcome well-behaved dogs

Lucy Anderson dog walking at Croome
Dog-friendly walking at Lanhydrock

Best places for dog walking 

We've some fantastic locations and landscapes for you and your four-legged friend to explore and enjoy - here are just a few suggestions.

It's a dog's life
Visitor exploring the woodland at Formby, Liverpool

All about dogs 

Dog lovers and walkers, you'll find everything you and your pooch need to know about visiting our many dog-friendly places in our round-up of articles.

Dogs at our places
Two women walk their 4 dogs through bluebell woodland at Hatchlands Park, Surrey.

Take the lead on dog walking with help from Forthglade 

We've partnered with natural pet food maker Forthglade so you and your dog can get even more out of the special places we care for. Find out how our new three pawprint rating system makes it easier for you to plan a visit with your four-legged friend.

Find out how we're working together
Our pawprint rating system

What you and your dog can expect 

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 your members handbook. 

Two people sitting at table with dogs

Best: Three pawprints

Three pawprints shows the very best places you can visit for a day with your dog. You’ll be able to take your dog to most areas, including indoors for a cup of tea and a treat. There’ll be clearly signed dog zones and dog-friendly experiences.

Two women walking their dog near a lake

Good: Two pawprints

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.

Dog on lead

Standard: One pawprint

Dogs are welcome here, but facilities are limited. They’ll be able to stretch their legs in the car park and walk in the nearby open spaces, depending on the season.

Heathland flora in the New Forest, Hampshire

Ticks and Lyme disease 

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Ticks are tiny spider-like creatures found in woodland and heath areas. Find out what to do if you're worried about ticks or Lyme disease.

More about ticks and Lyme disease

Follow our lead...

Help us keep the countryside a safe, healthy and enjoyable place for you and your dog, other visitors, wildlife and livestock:

  • Keep your dog in sight and under control - use a lead if requested
  • Don't let your dog chase wildlife or farm animals
  • Watch out for local notices. There may be restrictions in woodland or farmland at sensitive times of year, during the lambing season, or between March and the end of July when ground-nesting birds are on eggs or raising their young
  • Please always pick up after your dog. At many of our sites we've dedicated dog bins for you to use

Different restrictions apply at each of our places and at different times of year, so please check before you visit exactly where you and your four-legged friend can roam.

More of a cat person?
Charley the cat outside Claydon House, Buckinghamshire

Meet the cats of the National Trust 

Many of the former residents at our houses were cat lovers and today a number of our places are still home to feline friends. Here are a few of our favourite cats found at our places, from a boisterous Bengal who prowls the gardens at Cotehele to Scrap, a midnight black cat with a fondness for cake.

Read their stories