Skip to content

Visiting Fell Foot with your dog

Two women walking across green field with two small black dogs.
Enjoy a visit to Fell Foot with your four-legged friends. | © John Millar

Take a stroll with your dog alongside England’s largest lake at Fell Foot. With parkland, Windermere’s lakeshore and the south meadow to explore, there’s plenty of space to stretch your legs.

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.

Fell Foot is a three pawprint rated place.

Three pawprints shows the very best places you can visit for a day with your dog. You’ll be able to take your dog to most areas, including indoors for a cup of tea and a treat. There’ll be clearly signed dog zones and dog-friendly experiences. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

Where can I take my dog? 

Dogs are very welcome in every part of the park, apart from the children’s play area. With lakeshore strolls, a splash in the water and a whole meadow to explore there's plenty of space to roam. It’s a great place to walk the dog with chance to relax in the Boathouse café with a hot drink, lite bite or cake afterwards. 

Please remember to keep your dog on a lead in the parkland, along the lakeshore paths and in the café. If you'd like to walk your dog off-lead, you can do that in the south meadow, as long as cattle are not grazing there. 

Are dogs allowed in the lake? 

Yes, dogs are allowed in the water off-lead, but please keep a close eye on them during busy periods, such as in the summer. Remember to look out for blue-green algae, which often blooms in Windermere and can be potentially fatal to dogs. More information can be found on the Lake District National Park's website

When water levels are particularly high, the lakeshore path can flood, concealing hidden drops and creating dangerous undercurrents, so please stay away from the water’s edge at these times. 

Pooch Passport

If you're planning a visit with your dog(s), why not pick up a Pooch Passport on your next walk? Collect stamps from participating places on your days out and your dog(s) will receive a special treat from our partners at Forthglade. Find out more about the Pooch Passport scheme and discover dog-friendly places to explore together. 1 September 2024 to 28 February 2025.

Santa Paws Festive Photo Studio *SOLD OUT*

Don your Christmas jumpers and hats for professional dog photographer Shaun Barr to capture a free image of you and your dog, to share with friends and family. 30 November and 7 December. Find out more and book your time slot.

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
Visitors relaxing on the shore of Lake Windermere at Fell Foot, Cumbria in spring

Discover more at Fell Foot

Find out how to get to Fell Foot, where to park, the things to see and do and more.

Our partners

Forthglade

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.

Visit website 

You might also be interested in

A lady and her dog walking out of a doorway in woodland at Allan Bank and Grasmere, Cumbria

Dog-friendly places to visit 

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.

A visitor with their dog leaving the Muddy Paws café at Lyme Park, Cheshire
Article
Article

Visiting National Trust places with your dog 

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.

Three dog walkers sat around a circular picnic table with two terrier-type dogs on the ground.
Article
Article

Best walks with dog-friendly cafés 

Rest and refuel after enjoying a walk with your dog. Here's a selection of the best walks with dog-friendly cafés at places we look after.

A dog on the lawn with dog treats from the Forthglade range at Ickworth House, Suffolk
Article
Article

How we're working with Forthglade for dog-friendly visits 

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.

A man walking a dog at Fell Foot Park in Cumbria
Article
Article

Things to see and do in the park at Fell Foot 

Take a leisurely walk around the park and meadows and keep an eye out for wildlife including otters, warblers and geese. There's plenty of things to do at Fell Foot.

View of a calm lake with boats on it and an autumn tree to the right
Activity
Activity

Watersports & boat hire at Fell Foot 

Fell Foot is the perfect place to try out a new activity on Windermere, England's largest lake. With access to the water, the park is ideal for paddling, canoeing and boat hire. See what’s on offer.

A cup of hot chocolate with a plate of donuts and pastries.
Article
Article

Eating at Fell Foot 

Whether you're after a coffee to take with you on your walk, brunch or an ice cream treat mid-adventure, you'll be well catered for at Fell Foot.

Two visitors holding hands whilst walking their dog at Tarn Hows, Cumbria

Dog-friendly places in the Lake District 

The Lake District has plenty of opportunities for you and your dog to explore some wonderful countryside – from the shores of Windermere to the fell tops in Langdale.