Visiting Benthall 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.

Benthall Hall 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 enjoy walks across the park and woodland, all year round. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

Where can my dog go?

Dogs are welcome in the woodland and parkland at Benthall, although sometimes they will need to be on a lead to protect nesting birds or livestock grazing the parkland during the year. Look out for signs that tell you where you need to put your dog on a lead. If you're in an area where it's safe to let your dog off the lead, please keep it under close control.

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

Where can't my dog go?

Dogs aren't allowed into the garden or indoor spaces at Benthall Hall, except for assistance or guide dogs.

What do I need to be aware of at Benthall?

Help us keep the countryside beautiful and safe for us all to enjoy. Please bag and bin your dog’s poo in the dog waste bin by the gate into the parkland or take home with you.

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.