Visiting Lyme with your dog

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.

Where can I walk with my dog?

Dogs are welcome in all areas of the park and garden. At this time of year, they can be off lead and under close control in most areas of the estate, and always on a lead around livestock and wildlife.

Recognising how important it is for dogs to be able to get exercise off the lead, we offer a secure off-lead dog-walking area in Knightslow Wood all year round, as well as a route through Pursefield Wood. To find out more, keep an eye out for signs in the park.

Thank you for helping us care for the wildlife around you during your visit.

Where else can my dog go?

Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of Lyme.

Eat: If you're looking for a bite to eat there are options whatever the weather.

At the house: Eat in or take away from the Servants' Hall Café. Dogs are welcome to sit in at in the top half of the Ale Cellar, space permitting. We ask that visitors keep their dog at the table when going up to order or to use the doggy doorbell provided.

At the Timber Yard: Visitors with dogs are welcome to sit in the Muddy Paws Engine House, an indoor seating area in the Timber Yard, which follows the same opening hours as the Timber Yard Café. Dogs are not allowed inside the Timber Yard Café so if you’re visiting alone, please use the doggy doorbell and one of our team members will pop out to take your order.

Shop: Pop into our Timber Yard Shop with your four-legged friend to check out our range of dog treats and accessories.

Crow Wood Playscape: Dogs on a short lead are welcome in the play area. Help us ensure this is a clean, safe space for children to play in by being extra-vigilant with dog fouling and not taking dogs near the tunnels or onto the play equipment.

Where can't my dog go?

Only assistance dogs are welcome inside the house, Timber Yard café and Hall Shop.

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