Visiting Charterhouse with your dog
If you're bringing your dog to Charterhouse, there are plenty of things to enjoy with your four legged friend. Discover where you can take your dog at Charterhouse, from the lawn with views of the house to the café for a well-earned rest.
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.
Charterhouse is a two pawprint rated place.
These places have water bowls, dog bins and dog-friendly walks. You’ll be able to take your dog into some areas, but not everywhere. If there’s a food and beverage outlet, you can have a cup of tea with them, probably outside. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.
Where can my dog go?
Dogs on leads are very welcome at Charterhouse on public footpaths across the estate, café, on the lawn in the gardens and in the car park. A member of the welcome team is usually on hand and will be happy to help if you need any assistance to ensure you and your dog have an enjoyable visit.
Dogs assisting visitors with disabilities are welcome inside the house, garden and café.
Livestock around Charterhouse
There may be livestock grazing in the fields surrounding Charterhouse, so we ask you to be mindful while walking your dog, especially if they are on an extendable lead. Help keep the countryside a safe, healthy and enjoyable place for you, your dog, other visitors, wildlife and livestock.
Where can't my dog go?
Assistance dogs only in the house and planted areas of the garden.
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
Facilities available for your dog
Water bowls are available at Charterhouse for your dog.