Visiting the Buscot and Coleshill Estates with your dog

An image of a pale cream fluffy dog between its two owners being walked along a path in the countryside and surrounded by greenery — Take a look at these top tips for walking your dog | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Dogs are welcome all year round in most areas across the Buscot and Coleshill Estates. With miles of footpaths, fields and woodland, there's plenty for them to explore, but please be aware of these guidelines for a safe walk.

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.

Buscot and Coleshill Estates 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, depending on the season. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

Where can my dog go on the Buscot and Coleshill Estates?

Dogs are welcome in most areas of the estates, but please look out for local notices which will let you know about any restrictions.

Dogs are not allowed in the main grounds at Buscot Park manor house but you’re welcome to exercise them in the nearby paddock field used for overflow car parking.

Look out for local notices

There may be restrictions in place on farmland or in woodland at certain times of the year, such as during lambing season or between March and July when ground-nesting birds are raising their young.

What do I need to be aware of on the Buscot and Coleshill Estates?

Look out for livestock

The estates are home to lots of animals, so please put your dog on a lead when you're close to them.

Cows are naturally curious; if they approach, walk slowly with your dog at heel. If you feel threatened, let your dog go – it can run faster than the cattle and escape. Once you’re safe, regain control of your dog.

What to do when you see calves

Always walk around cows with calves. They may feel threatened if you walk between them. If you’re unsure, try to find an alternative route around the field. 

A family group walking their dog in the countryside at Woodchester Park in Gloucestershire — It's important to keep your dog under close control at all times | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

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

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.

Dog-friendly cafes and pubs

If you’re stopping for lunch or refreshments, the canteen at the Old Carpenters Yard, the Radnor Arms pub in Coleshill and the Buscot tea-room all have outside seating and water bowls for dogs.