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Visiting Lanhydrock with your dog

Dog walkers at Lanhydrock, Cornwall
There's lots to enjoy with your dog at Lanhydrock | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Find out where you can take your dogs at Lanhydrock, and discover the dog-friendly walks that meander across this impressive estate. Lanhydrock is a three pawprint rated place.

If you're a fan of dogs, you're not alone. A browse through the Victorian family photo albums at Lanhydrock reveals as many photos of pets as of people, including much-loved spaniels and terriers. The Robartes children were often featured along with the nanny and a favoured terrier. Today, Lanhydrock welcomes dogs just like the family did hundreds of years ago.

Where can my dog go?

Dogs are welcome in:

  • Park Cafe
  • Stables Cafe
  • Second Hand Bookshop
  • The Stables Courtyard (dog tie-up area available here)
  • Visitor reception
  • The countryside (please obey any signage as livestock may be grazing)
  • The gardens, after 2pm daily (part of a dogs welcome trial running until 3 November 2024)

Assistance and support dogs are welcome in all areas at Lanhydrock.

Dogs welcome maps, with information on poo bin and dog bathing locations, as well as a map showing where dogs can go, are avaialble from all of Lanhydrock's outlets. All of Lanhydrock's walking trails are dog-friendly.

Where can't dogs go?

Dogs can't go:

  • The gardens, before 2pm (part of a dogs welcome trial running until 3 November 2024)
  • The shop
  • The plant centre
  • The wildflower meadow (to protect ground-nesting birds)
  • The cycle trails (the trails are intended for riding at speed, so there's a risk of injury to dogs, walkers and other cyclists.)
Couple walking with dog through woodland
There are lots of places for your dog to explore | © National Trust Image/Trevor Ray Hart

Pooch passport

We've created the Pooch Passport in partnership with natural pet food maker Forthglade, so your dog(s) can walk their way towards a special treat while visiting some of the top dog-friendly places in our care.

Pick up a Pooch Passport from participating places and every time you visit a different place together between 1 September 2024 and 28 February 2025, you can collect a stamp. Find out more about the pooch passport here.

Dogs in the garden trial

At Lanhdyrock we are trialling welcoming dogs in the garden after 2pm daily. The trial is running from 1 September - 3 November 2024.

We ask that all dogs are kept on short, fixed leads of 1m in length. If you need to swap your lead, Visitor Reception have a stock of fixed leads available to borrow.

Assistance and support dogs are welcome in all areas at Lanhydrock.

Two visitors walking dogs in the late autumn parkland with bare trees and gold leaves on the ground at Lanhydrock, Cornwall.
Visitors walking their dogs at Lanhydrock | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

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

Frequently asked questions

Family visitors walking in the garden at Lanhydrock, Cornwall

Discover more at Lanhydrock

Find out when Lanhydrock is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.

Our partners

Forthglade

We've partnered with natural pet food maker Forthglade so that you and your dog can get even more out of the special places we care for.

Visit website 

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