Visiting Lyveden with your dog

Spaniel in muddy field next to owner's feet — Enjoy a dog walk at Lyveden this spring. | © ©National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Surrounded by picturesque woodland and iconic Northamptonshire countryside, Lyveden is a great place to explore with your canine companion. Well-behaved dogs kept on short leads are welcome throughout the manor, gardens and courtyard areas.

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.

Lyveden is a three pawprint rated place.

Those with three pawprints are the very best places 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.

Where can my dog go?

Dogs kept on short leads are welcome throughout Lyveden; including the manor and café, the gardens and courtyard areas, and within the lodge.

Facilities available for your dog

There's a water bowl with fresh water outside the café and toilets in case your dog is thirsty from all the fun at Lyveden.

Small dog looks longingly at owners cinnamon roll, whilst sat on their lap at Lyveden cafe's outdoor seating area. — Enjoy a tasty treat in the café with your four-legged friend after a walk around the grounds. | © Images/James Dobson

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

Livestock at Lyveden

Livestock frequently graze in and around Lyveden, so we ask you to please be mindful while walking your dog, and keep them on a short lead at all times.