Visiting Cragside with your dog

A golden-coloured labrador is looking at the camera. It has a cheery face and its tongue is out. He is stood on the Rock Garden steps at Cragside. — Bring your four-legged friend to Cragside | © National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor

We love dogs at Cragside and they are welcome in all of the outdoors spaces. As the name suggests, Cragside is built on a craggy outcrop with rocky pathways and some cliff edges. The estate is also home to some resident wildlife, including deer and red squirrels, so we ask all dog owners to keep their four-legged friends on a lead at all times.

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.

Cragside 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.

Where can my dog go?

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor spaces at Cragside, including the Rock Garden, Formal Garden, Pinetum and woodland, but please keep them on a lead at all times. There are 40-miles of footpaths to explore across this 1,000-acre estate and all of these are accessible for dogs. They are also welcome in Cragside's shop and tea rooms, where there is a dog-friendly seating area indoors.

Where can't my dog go?

Dogs are not allowed in the House, except assistance dogs.

A small white dog on a lead stood looking to camera. Its owner's feet and jeans can be seen to the left of the photo. — Dog walking through the woods | © National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor

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.

What facilities are available?

There are dog water bowls located in the visitor centre courtyard and outside the House.

There are 11 dog bins on the grounds:

- Next to the Archimedes Screw
- Either end of the main car park
- Outside the Bunkhouse
- One on the walking route around Tumbleton Lake
- Formal Garden car park
- Dunkirk car park
- Crozier car park (near the play area)
- Nelly's Moss car park (near labyrinth)
- Two around Nelly's Moss Lakes