Visiting The Vyne 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.

The Vyne is a three pawprint rated place, there are dog bowls, places for walks and dog-friendly indoor seating in the Brewhouse tea-room. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

Where can my dog go?

Dogs on leads are welcome outdoors everywhere except the children’s play area just off the Lime Avenue. This means you're free to explore the garden together.

Dogs are also welcome in the downstairs seating area of the Brewhouse tea-room. We suggest you have at least two people in your group so one of you can take a seat with the dog, while the other orders the food and drink in the servery. Dogs are also welcome in the shop.

The estate at The Vyne is classified as a nature reserve so please keep your dog on a lead at all times. This is to make sure they don’t chase other animals, run off into the undergrowth or jump into the lake.

Where can’t my dog go?

Only assistance dogs are allowed into the house, the servery area and first floor of the tearoom and children’s natural play area.

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

Facilities available for my dog

Dog waste bins are located by visitor reception, on the Lime Avenue and on the path out to the bird hide in the garden. Please bear this in mind when planning your walks.

You'll find water available in a dog bowl at Visitor Reception and outside the Brewhouse tea-room.

Dog-friendly indoor seating in the tearoom

Dogs are welcome in the ground floor seating area of the Brewhouse tearoom. We suggest you bring min two people in your group so one of you can sit with the dog while the other orders the food and drink in the servery area.

Dog-friendly picnic spots

You’re welcome to bring your canine companion to any outdoor picnic table in the garden apart from those in the children's play area.