Visiting Murlough NNR 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.

Murlough National Nature Reserve is a one pawprint rated place.

Dogs are welcome here, but facilities are limited. They’ll be able to stretch their legs in the car park and walk in the nearby open spaces. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

Where can my dog go at Murlough NNR?

Dogs on leads are welcome across the Nature Reserve. However, please beware of animal grazing areas and ground nesting bird sections of the reserve, these will be out of bounds for your dog.

What do I need to be aware of at Murlough NNR?

Dogs must be kept on leads at all times on the Nature Reserve including on the trails, due to their varied nature.

There are animal grazing across the Nature Reserve, as well as a variety of wildlife – please do keep your dog on a lead for the safety of all and look out for information about ground nesting bird season.

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.