Visiting Quarry Bank with your dog

A happy dog in winter — Collie in winter | © Annapurna Mellor

Dogs are welcome at Quarry Bank, and with more than 400 acres of woodland and countryside to explore, there are plenty of opportunities for bounding, jumping, sniffing and splashing.

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.

Quarry Bank 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 at Quarry Bank?

Dogs are welcome at Quarry Bank but must be kept on a lead around the wider estate, and on a short lead in the Mill Yard, garden and Styal village, as well as on footpaths through the main visitor areas
Dogs on leads are welcome to join you if you are visiting the Upper Garden Café
Dogs are welcome in the visitor welcome building, the upper garden shop and the Mill Yard shop
Only assistance dogs are permitted inside the Weaving Shed Restaurant, Mill, Quarry Bank House, the Apprentice House, Village Hub and Workers Cottage
There are four great walks around the Quarry Bank estate that are ideal to explore with your dog all year round. They take anywhere from 20 minutes to two and a half hours to complete. For more information, speak to a member of the visitor reception team

Top tips for an enjoyable dog-friendly visit

Please help to keep the countryside a safe, healthy and enjoyable place for you and your dog, other visitors, wildlife and livestock by following this guidance:

When approaching neighbouring farms with grazing livestock, please put your dog on a lead
The river current can be very strong, so please watch out if your dog is taking a dip to cool off
There are a few areas in Chapel Woods where we ask that dogs are kept on a lead. These areas are signposted
Please ensure that all dog waste is removed by using the dog waste bins provided across the estate

Dogs at Quarry Bank, Cheshire — Dog walking at Quarry Bank | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

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.

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

What facilities are available for my dog?

Drinking bowls can be found around the Mill Yard and at the Upper Garden Café.

Dog poo bins can be found in between the electric car charge points and visitor reception, on the path next to a small reservoir in the car park, and near the lynch-gate not far from the chapel.

Don't forget to visit the Mill Shop and Garden Shop, where you'll find a great range of products for dogs.