Skip to content

Visiting Buckland Abbey with your dog

Two large dogs on leads held by two people on a path at Lanhydrock, Cornwall, with grass and fallen autumn leaves beyond
Dogs are welcome in the grounds of Buckland Abbey | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

There's lots of space for dogs to stretch their legs around the grounds at Buckland Abbey, with miles of paths to explore through three circular woodland walks and lots of countryside, and after a long walk dogs are welcome to relax in the Ox Yard Café. Find out more about visiting Buckland Abbey with your dog below.

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.

Buckland Abbey is a one pawprint rated place.

Dogs are able to stretch their legs in the car park and estate walks, as well as some areas of the garden. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

Where can my dog go?

There are acres of countryside to explore at Buckland Abbey and lots of dog-friendly walks. The popular Red woodland walk is a great place to start; for a shorter walk, the Yellow route is ideal.

The Blue route is a good option for those looking to stretch their legs with a longer and more challenging walk.

Dogs are welcome in the Ox Yard Café, shop and visitor facilities. They can be taken into the Abbey garden and Cider House garden on a short lead. Unfortunately they cannot access the kitchen garden.

Please keep dogs on a lead and under close control at all times, and never leave your dog alone in a car on a hot day.

Assistance dogs

Only assistance dogs are permitted inside the Abbey.

What facilities are there for my dog?

Dogs can drink clean water from bowls outside the toilet blocks, visitor welcome, café and car park.

There are dog waste bins by the start of the estate walks, near the cart pond.

We've partnered with natural pet food maker Forthglade on the Dogs Welcome project, helping you and your dog get even more out of the special places we care for.

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
The exterior of Abbot's tower at Buckland Abbey in the evening light

Discover more at Buckland Abbey

Find out when Buckland Abbey 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 

You might also be interested in

Two visitors holding hands whilst walking their dog at Tarn Hows, Cumbria

Dog-friendly places to visit 

Discover the best places for a dog walk, from coastal adventures and dramatic mountains to more leisurely walks near you. Plus, find information on dog-friendly cafés and read our Canine Code.

A visitor with their dog leaving the Muddy Paws café at Lyme Park, Cheshire
Article
Article

Visiting National Trust places with your dog 

If you’re bringing your dog(s) to the places we care for, you'll find information on our pawprint rating system and the Canine Code to help plan your visit.

A man sitting at a cafe table with two large dogs
Article
Article

Best walks with dog-friendly cafés 

Find a place to sit and relax with your dog after a good walk. Here's a selection of great walks with dog-friendly cafés at the end to round off the day.

A dog on the lawn with dog treats from the Forthglade range at Ickworth House, Suffolk
Article
Article

How we're working with Forthglade for dog-friendly visits 

We've partnered with natural pet food maker Forthglade to create the Dogs Welcome project, helping you and your dog(s) get the most out of the places in our care.

Avenue of autumn trees in evening light at Buckland Abbey, Devon
Article
Article

Buckland Abbey's estate 

Discover Buckland's ancient woodland on one of three colour coded walking routes. With abundant wildlife and far reaching views, it's a peaceful and fascinating place to enjoy a stroll.

View of the abbey and barn in autumn from the woods beyond garden house at Buckland Abbey, Devon
Article
Article

Buckland Abbey's gardens 

From beautiful blooms to bountiful harvests, the gardens at Buckland Abbey are full of colour and seasonal interest. Soak up the history of this special place as you admire the planting, or simply enjoy the peace and tranquillity as you sit a while on one of the benches.

Two visitors sit at a table in the cafe with cups of tea and cakes
Article
Article

Eating and shopping at Buckland Abbey 

Take a break at the Ox Yard Café, which serves tea, coffee, light lunches and sweet treats, before finding a special gift or souvenir in the National Trust shop, art galleries and second-hand bookshop.

Visitors with children walking through the forest at Killerton, Devon

Dog-friendly places in Devon 

There are plenty of dog-friendly spots to keep tails wagging in Devon. Your dog can enjoy splashing with all four paws in the sea or sniffing out treasure on a woodland walk.