Visiting Clumber Park with your dog

Dog & owner — Dog walking is a great way to explore to park | © Annapurna Mellor

Dogs have always been special at Clumber Park. The Clumber Spaniel breed was developed here when the estate was home to the Dukes of Newcastle. Today, exploring the 3,800 acres of beautiful parkland with your furry companion by your side is one of the best ways to see the park.

Our pawprint rating system

Clumber Park is a three pawprint rated place showing we're one of the very best National Trust places you can visit for a day with your dog. We offer a dog-friendly experience and you’ll be able to take your dog to most areas, including indoors for a cuppa and a treat.

Where can my dog go?

Dogs are welcome across Clumber Park, please keep them on a lead when signage asks you to do so. Dogs have their own dog-friendly cafe called Central Bark but they are not allowed inside the main Turning Yard cafe, although of course welcome to sit at the tables outside.

What do I need to be aware of at Clumber Park?

Clumber is a Grade I listed park and garden, and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The park is home to deer, birds and other wildlfe, as well as grazing livestock. We want you and your dog to enjoy exploring and ask you to help keep the animals that live here safe in return.

Dogs should be kept in sight at all times and only let off the lead if they have a good recall. Where we ask for dogs on leads, it is to protect animals, and other visitors. Ground nesting birds especially will abandon their nests and young if disturbed by dogs. Abandoned eggs and chicks can die.

We ask for dogs to be kept on a short lead in the Pleasure Grounds, walled kitchen garden, the main visitor facilities and Lake Brew at Hardwick village. This is because of the number of other visitors that use these areas, some of whom might be scared of dogs. We also don't want your dog to feel nervous off a lead here where it's very busy. Thank you for being considerate.

Dog bins

Please always clear up after your dog. There are 10 dog bins around the main visitor facilities and along the lakeside walk. A map is available from the admissions point on entry, and from the Information Point in the Laundry Yard.

The Dog Paddock

The Dog Paddock, which can be found in Cow Pastures, is an area where your dog can enjoy an off-leash experience and roam freely in a safe, secure environment. One side of the paddock is set out with agility equipment for your dog to enjoy.

The Dog Paddock is free to use and no booking is required.

We want everyone to enjoy the paddock and ask all users to adhere to the terms and conditions of use which are displayed in Central Bark or can be found here.

A dog using the agility equipment in the Dog Paddock at Clumber Park | © Steve Bradley

Central Bark dog-friendly cafe

Clumber Park is home to its very own dog-friendly cafe, Central Bark.

It offers somewhere warm indoors to shelter from the wind and rain, or there's a coffee garden outside to enjoy in the sunshine. We have dog bowls for your canine friends, as well as toys for them to play with, ensuring that your dog will be in their element.

We also offer doggy products to purchase, just in case you may have forgotten to bring something on your walk.

If you dog has thoroughly enjoyed their day and needs a quick clean down before getting back in the car, our new warm water dog shower is available for them to enjoy.

Open every day from 9.00 - 15.00, we serve hot and cold snacks and all your favourite drinks made to order. You'll find Central Bark between the walled kitchen garden and the cricket ground.

Central Bark events

Weekly Dog Walking Social

Every Wednesday at 10.00 from Central Bark. Come and enjoy a leisurely led walk around Clumber Park, and treat yourself to a cuppa and a piece of cake in the café afterwards.

Our annual Christmas Dog Walk takes place on Wednesday 18 December. Please come along in festive jumpers and doggy fancy dress. Enjoy a free mince pie & regular hot drink afterwards.

Monthly Family Dog Walk

First Sunday of every month at 10.30 from Central Bark.

Explore different areas of Clumber Park while meeting like-minded dog loving families.

Note: for all our walks, please wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the weather. All dogs to be kept on a lead and should be sociable with other dogs and owners. No booking required, please just turn up on the day.

Annual Dog Show

Every autumn we hold a fun, family-friendly Dog Show. Enter 'Waggiest Tail', 'Prettiest Eyes', Best Junior Handler' and many more. Visit the show stalls to pick up a treat and grab a bite to eat in Central Bark.

The date for our 2025 event will be Sunday 14 September. Details to follow.

Two women with a black dog sitting on a tree stump and chatting in woodland at Basildon Park, Berkshire. — Visitors with a dog in woodland | © National Trust Images / Chris Lacey

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