Visiting Wallington with your dog

Two visitors walking a dog at Wallington, Northumberland, surrounded by purple flowers — Enjoy a visit with your dog at Wallington | © National Trust Images/John Millar

We love dogs at Wallington and they’re more than welcome to visit all year round. Find out what facilities are available for dogs and what you need to be aware of when you’re walking your dog at Wallington.

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 have a pawprint rating system and given all the places in our care a rating. You can find this information in the National Trust members’ handbook.

Wallington 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. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

Where can my dog go?

Wallington is a large outdoor property and there are miles of walks to explore. Dogs are welcome in almost all the outdoor areas including the woodland, along the River walks and in the walled garden. Dogs are also allowed inside the Clocktower Café and shops.

Where can't my dog go?

Dogs are not allowed in the play areas or house. Only assistance dogs are allowed in these areas. There is also a separate area within the upstairs of the cafe where dogs are not permitted (the Piper's Room).

What do I need to be aware of at Wallington?

You must keep your dog on a lead at all times when visiting to avoid disturbing the wildlife and the grazing livestock on the tenant farms.

Dogs and livestock

Be aware that walking with a dog may make the livestock show more interest in you
Always keep your dog on a lead when passing through areas with livestock
Never allow your dog to worry livestock, which can involve chasing or attacking them
Leave as much space as you can between your dog and the animals

When you encounter livestock, don’t worry too much about sticking to the line of the path, give them room.

If you are threatened by cattle, it’s safer to let go of your dog’s lead. Your dog is likely to run away to safety and meet you further along the path. Don’t risk getting hurt by trying to protect your dog, for example by picking it up. The cattle may still try to get to your dog as they think it is the threat.

Facilities available for my dog

You'll find water bowls in the courtyard and outside the visitor welcome area. There are litter bins for your dog’s waste in the courtyard and at the entrance to the East Wood. You can buy doggy treats in the café and shop.

Dog with its owner — Visitor with their dog | © National Trust 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