Discover more at Mottisfont
Find out when Mottisfont is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Dogs are welcome to explore most of the garden at Mottisfont. We ask that you keep dogs on a short lead at all times while you visit so that everyone can enjoy their time here.
We’ve worked with our partner Forthglade to come up with this Canine Code, which helps to make sure everyone can enjoy their day:
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.
Mottisfont 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.
Dogs are welcome in most of the garden on a short lead at all times. You'll find a dog-friendly indoor café area in the Stables (either the Coffee Shop or within the Coach House), and dogs are welcome inside the shop.
They're also welcome on the wider estate where they can roam more freely, although please be mindful that this is a wildlife conservation area and will also sometimes have grazing livestock. Why not visit nearby Spearywell Wood, a three-minute drive (or 15-minute walk) from the visitor car park?
The visitor reception team can advise you on the best places for dogs on arrival, and where you can find appropriate bins. There are maps on site which can help you, or download the map for dog walkers.
You'll find water bowls on the visitor reception terrace and by the outdoor seating area for the Coach House Café in the Stableyard.
There are dog bins in the car park near the entrance to visitor reception, behind the stables and at the top of the main pathway, towards the walled garden entrance.
Only assistance dogs are allowed in the walled garden, formal lawns behind and in front of the house, and most indoor areas (the house, gallery and Old Kitchen café). Please don’t let dogs paddle or swim in the river or streams, to keep them healthy and to avoid disturbing wildlife.
Our definition of close or effective control is:
Dogs are also welcome in the Mottisfont estate woodlands and other countryside places we care for in south-west Hampshire. If you're a professional dog walker, you're welcome to make use of these sites if you're licensed with us. Find out more about visiting the south-west Hampshire countryside with your dog.
Find out when Mottisfont is open, how to get here, 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(s) to the places we care for, you'll find information on our pawprint rating system and the Canine Code to help plan your visit.
We've partnered with natural pet food maker Forthglade to create the Dogs Welcome project, helping you and your dog(s) get the most out of the places in our care.
Find a place to sit and relax with your dog after a good walk. Here's a selection of great walks with dog-friendly cafés at the end to round off the day.
Treat yourself to a snack and drink at one of the cafés after a wander in the garden.
Enjoy every season at Mottisfont, with its ancient trees and babbling brooks, from rich autumn foliage and the scented Winter Garden, to spring bulbs and, of course, the world-famous Rose Garden.
Dogs are welcome at the Mottisfont estate woodlands, Stockbridge Down, Stockbridge Marsh and Curbridge Nature Reserve. Find out about licences for professional dog walkers.
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.