Visiting Tatton Park with your dog

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.

Tatton Park 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?

We love dogs and look forward to welcoming you and your dog to the parkland at Tatton Park. There are trails for dog walking and trail leaflets are available from the welcome building.

From 1 May 2024, dogs will be allowed in Tatton Park's formal gardens on short leads. Dogs must be kept on a lead in all garden areas. This new initiative is a trial and will be reviewed in September 2024. Please ensure that you always clear up after your dog and help us maintain our beautiful gardens for all visitors.

Dogs on leads are also welcome at the farm and at doggy-orientated events, such as the Fun Dog Show at the Farm and Dogfest Cheshire.

Where can’t my dog go?

Unless they are assistance dogs, dogs are not allowed in the mansion, play area, old hall, Stables Restaurant and the Gardener’s Cottage Tea-Room.

What facilities are available for dogs?

In the Stableyard you can sit outside with your dog and enjoy refreshments from the Stables Restaurant, a great spot to enjoy a break after a parkland walk.

There are dog bowls with water available and the nearby gift shop sells Frozzy’s frozen yoghurt for dogs, as well as doggy gifts.

Near the welcome building and main car park there is a doggy wash, a fun way to clean the mud off your dog before you head home.

What do I need to be aware of?

• Keep your dog under close control

From 1 May 2024, all dogs must be kept on a lead within the Parkland until 31 July 2024, due to increased incidences of dog attacks on deer calves, pregnant hinds and sheep.

Also, please remember that not everyone loves dogs, and some people fear them. So make sure your dog doesn't approach other people, especially children, unless it's invited to.

• Always clear up after your dog.

Two dog waste bins are provided near the Knutsford Entrance and one near the Dog Wood Entrance. Alternatively, please help us by taking your dog waste bags away with you to dispose of responsibly elsewhere.

• Maximum of 4 dogs per person

A maximum of 4 dogs per person are permitted in the Park to ensure they can be kept under appropriate levels of control at all times.

• Do not allow your dogs in the water.

Dogs should not be encouraged to bathe or paddle in the Meres, or any Tatton Park waters, for conservation and health and safety reasons. Blue-green algae is present and toxic blooms, which can be harmful to your pet, can occur at any time.

For more information visit the Tatton Park website.

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