
Discover more at Ludshott Common
Find out how to get to Ludshott Common, where to park, the things to see and do and more.
Responsible owners and their dogs are welcome at Ludshott Common. Here’s some information to help you plan a visit here with your four-legged friend, including the Canine Code which all dog owners are asked to follow to ensure everyone has an enjoyable day.
Keep your dog on a lead at all times around livestock, and under close control on the wider common land. Please only allow them to approach other visitors and other dogs with their consent.
Be mindful of the countryside code and keep an eye out for warning and information signs around the common during your walk.
There are no dog bins on the common so please take your dog waste home with you.
We’ve worked with our partner Forthglade to come up with this Canine Code, which helps to make sure everyone can enjoy their day:
Our definition of close or effective control is:
Ludshott Common is managed and legally protected as an open space because it provides much needed habitat for a range of rare bird species which depend on heathland landscapes.
We also have cattle and other livestock owned by local graziers grazing the common land throughout the year, which is an important part of habitat management.
Even if you know your dog well, there's a risk they could become excited by unusual smells or sounds or movement of the livestock and react unpredictably.
This can create stressful and avoidable situations, which could result in prosecutions and a fine for the owner, stress to the animals and loss of income to the grazier.
Even if your dog does not bite livestock, chasing or barking at them can cause pregnant animals to lose their young through stress.
Between 1 March and 31 July, you must have your dog on a lead no more than two metres long on open access land, even if there is no livestock on the land.
These are legal requirements which, if broken, could result in a fine of up to £1,000. Livestock owners can also shoot dogs they believe are worrying their animals.
In the spring, many ground-nesting birds can be spotted on the estate. It's important to keep your dog under close control to avoid disturbing these birds and other wildlife.
Due to the huge increase of dog walkers using Ludshott Common in the past year, we have struggled to keep up with the disposal of dog waste left in our bins.
Emptying the bins incurs heavy costs, which is still not keeping up with demand.
As a charity we have limited funds for waste disposal so as a result the dog waste bins on Ludshott Common were removed at the end of September 2021.
Please help us to keep this special place beautiful by taking your dog waste away with you.
Find out how to get to Ludshott Common, where to park, the things to see and do and more.
We've partnered with natural pet food maker Forthglade so that you and your dog can get even more out of the special places we care for.
Discover the best places for a dog walk, from coastal adventures and dramatic mountains to more leisurely walks near you. Plus find information on dog-friendly cafés and read our Canine Code.
If you’re bringing your dog to the places we care for, here’s information on the Canine Code and pawprint rating system to plan your visit.
After a good dog walk in the fresh air, find a place to sit and relax with your dog in a dog-friendly café.
We've partnered with natural pet food maker Forthglade to create the Dogs Welcome project, helping you and your dog to get the most out of the places in our care.
The heathland at Ludshott Common dates back 5,000 years and contains some of the few remaining areas of lowland heath in Europe. Discover some of the birdlife and wildlife you can see here, as well as similar heathlands and woodlands you can visit nearby.
Bring your dog to Hampshire, for a fun day out: explore formal gardens, expansive estates and parkland, or simply wander across commons and among the woodland and heath of the New Forest.