Visiting Powis Castle and Garden with your dog

A small white dog sat at a café table — Enjoy a bite to eat together outside the Courtyard Café | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

If you’re bringing your dog to Powis Castle and Garden, it’s important to know when and where you can visit beforehand. Discover where you can stop for a bite to eat with your four-legged friend, and the quieter times of year that the garden opens up to our dog visitors.

The wider estate at Powis Castle and Garden

Please note that the wider estate and parkland are owned by Powis Estates not the National Trust and are therefore private. There is a permissive path on the tarmac drive for walkers. Dogs are not allowed anywhere in this area on or off leads and we ask that visitors respect the landowner's wishes. If you're visiting with your dog please drive up to the National Trust car park.

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.

Powis Castle and Garden 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 I take my dog?

Dogs have been welcome in the garden during the winter months for some time. Now, for a trial period from Saturday 6 June to 31 October 2026, we’re extending this welcome into the summer season, and will be reviewing feedback from visitors, staff and volunteers throughout.

During this period, dogs on short, non-extendable leads are welcome on paths in most outdoor areas. However, they won’t be able to access the Great Lawn, the East Front, the Italianate Terraces or the privately owned wider estate. This helps us protect the garden’s fragile historic features and preserve plants of particular significance, whilst also maintaining spaces for families picnicking and enjoying events and activities.

For the conservation of the castle and to help protect our collection, only registered assistance dogs are permitted inside the castle and Clive Museum.

As we do not have a separate dog-friendly area within our cafés, we’re unfortunately unable to welcome dogs indoors in these spaces. However, dogs are very welcome in the Second-hand Bookshop, as well as in the outdoor seating areas of the Courtyard Café and Garden Coffee Shop, where you can relax and enjoy your visit together.

Top tips for your visit:

Please look out for pawprint markers to help guide you along dog-friendly routes. Maps showing accessible areas will also be available from Visitor Reception and the Garden Kiosk.

We’re asking visitors to keep dogs on short leads and keep paws on paths to help protect the lawns and historic garden from damage. Need a short lead? A limited number are available to borrow from the Garden Kiosk on arrival. To borrow one, simply leave your own lead with us and collect it again before you leave.

Dog waste bins are available at the Ticket Office in the car park, at the garden entrance, and by the Garden Coffee Shop.

Forgotten the essentials? We always keep a supply of spare dog poo bags at the Garden Kiosk and will be happy to provide a few to help keep the garden clean and enjoyable for everyone.

Water bowls are available in the main castle courtyard and by the Second-hand Bookshop, Ticket Office and Garden Coffee Shop.

For the comfort of your dog and other visitors, please don’t tie up your dog or leave them unattended. If you need any help during your visit, just ask a member of the team.

Please follow the Canine Code, developed with our partner Forthglade, to help ensure everyone enjoys their visit.

A dachshund wearing a purple checked coat, on the lead, with autumn leaves on the grass around it, at Bodnant Garden, North Wales — Discover when and where to walk your dog at Powis Castle and Garden | © National Trust Images/Emma Baxendale

Visiting during winter?

Following the trial, dogs will be able to access the garden as usual until the end of February 2027. Access from March 2027 onwards will be announced once the trial has ended and we've reviewed all the feedback from visitors, staff and volunteers.

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 avoids tripping up other visitors and 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.