Visiting Ashridge 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.

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.

Ashridge 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.

What do I need to be aware of at Ashridge?

Wild deer

Wild deer can be seen anywhere and at any time on the estate. It's therefore vital that you can control your dog if it’s off the lead. When dogs chase deer, the consequences can be very serious. Apart from the stress and suffering to the deer, there's the risk of road traffic accidents that could injure the deer, your dog and the driver.

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

Bird nesting season (1 March to 31 July)

It’s the law that all dogs on common or access land are on leads during the bird nesting season, which runs from 1 March to 31 July each year. Dogs running through long grass will harm ground-nesting birds and their chicks.

Livestock

There are several areas of the estate where cattle and sheep graze. Please adhere to any notices relating to livestock in these areas, give the animals plenty of space and keep your dog on a short lead.

Horses

There is a large network of public and permitted bridleways across the estate. When passing horse riders, please keep your dog under close control and give horses plenty of space.