Visiting Chirk Castle with your dog

Our pawprint rating system

Chirk Castle is a two pawprint rated place. We have water bowls, dog bins and dog-friendly walks. You’ll be able to take your dog into some areas, but not everywhere. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times in all areas of the Chirk Castle estate.

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

Where can I walk my dog?

Dogs are welcome in Chirk Castle’s garden and Pleasure Ground Wood for a trial period during normal opening hours from 1 September 2025 until 28 February 2026.

To help us care for the garden, we ask that all dogs are always kept on a short lead and that visitors stick to the garden paths and always pick up after their four-legged friends. We have short leads available – please ask our team at the garden gate if you need to borrow one. You will be asked to deposit your lead and collect it after your garden walk.

Please help us to keep Chirk Castle dog friendly by always following these regulations and bringing plenty of dog bags to pick up any waste. There are dog waste bins available.  

Please note that dogs are not permitted in the kitchen garden, castle rooms, Adam Tower or children’s play area. This is to ensure these spaces stay clean and safe for everyone to enjoy.

There are also three main marked trails across the Chirk Castle estate, so there are great options for walks at any time of the year. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times in all areas of the Chirk Castle estate.

Woodland Walk

The Woodland Walk is a circular path through woodland and across parkland and fields that will take around 45-60 minutes. Follow the blue markers from Stable Bank. 

The Old Golf trail

The Old Golf trail takes around 30-45 minutes and takes you through fields and parkland to the hill behind the castle, for the best view of Chirk Castle in its landscape. Follow the red markers from the car park. 

Offa's Dyke Walk

The Offa's Dyke walk takes you just off the Chirk estate. It’s a permissive path, open April to September. Look out for sections of the 8th-century Scheduled Ancient Monument of Offa's Dyke and the site of part of the 1165 battle of Crogen, as well as the ancient Oak at the Gates of the Dead. Follow the orange markers. 

Assistance dogs 

Assistance dogs are welcome to accompany their owner anywhere in the gardens or castle. Please ask a member of the team if you need any assistance. 

Dog waste bins 

There are dog waste bins available by the car park, along the Woodland Walk, near the Davies' Gates and close to the garden gate. Please make sure that you pick up after your dog and use the bins provided. Dog-waste left in plastic bags can be harmful to other animals. 

Water bowls

Your dog can enjoy a refreshing drink of water by Home Farm and up by the castle.

The estate 

Our parkland is home to tenant farmers with a variety of livestock which could be grazing anywhere on the estate fields. We also have an abundance of wildlife that needs protecting. To prevent incidents and attacks to livestock and wildlife dogs must be kept on their lead and kept under close control. Remember, even small friendly dogs can unintentionally scare sheep.

The castle 

We warmly welcome assistance dogs inside the castle and café. All other dogs are welcome in the overflow seating for the tea room and in the outdoor seating of the courtyard. Here, you can relax with your furry companions while enjoying refreshments.

Play area 

Dogs are not permitted in the play area. This is to ensure this space stays clean and safe for everyone’s enjoyment.

Have you visited Chirk Castle with your dog?

Why not share any photos from your day on Facebook or Instagram? Don't forget to tag us @chirkcastlent and #ChirkCastleNT

Pooch passport 

We’re excited to announce our participation in the National Trust’s Pooch passport program.  Bring your dog and collect stamps from participating places on your days out and each full passport gains a special treat from our partners at Forthglade.

Pick up a Pooch Passport from one of the 133 participating places and every time you visit a different place together between 1 September 2025 and 28 February 2026, you can collect a stamp.

Once you’ve collected six stamps, your dog can get a free packet of natural dog treats. When you collect 12 stamps from your visits together, they can get a free loyal explorer dog tag, subject to availability. 

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.