Visiting Colby Woodland Garden with your dog

Couple walking the dog over a bridge at Colby Woodland Garden, Pembrokeshire — Walking the dog at Colby Woodland Garden, Pembrokeshire | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Dogs are welcome at Colby Woodland Garden all year round, and there are plenty of places to take your four-legged friend while you're here. Please help keep Colby Woodland Garden enjoyable for everyone by keeping your dog on a lead at all times, cleaning up after them and following the guidance below.

What do I need to be aware of?

The garden is teeming with wildlife, including otters, water birds and ground nesting birds. We ask that you keep your dog on a lead at all times in the Woodland Garden. You are also advised not to leave your pet in the car, as our car parks offer very limited shade. Please speak to the visitor welcome team if you require any more information.

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.

Colby Woodland Garden is a one pawprint rated place.

Dogs are welcome on a lead here, but facilities are limited. They’ll be able to stretch their legs whilst on a lead, and explore most places in the 8.5 acres of Colby Woodland Garden.

Where can my dog go at Colby Woodland Garden?

Dogs are welcome at Colby Woodland Garden all year round.

Dogs are not allowed in the walled garden, bookshop or tearoom.

They can go inside the Bothy exhibition room, where there are also tables so you can enjoy your food from the Bothy Tearoom sitting inside too.

Sweet small dog in winter Colby Woodland Garden, Pembrokeshire — Visiting furry friend Colby Woodland Garden Pembrokeshire | © National Trust Images/ James Dobson

What facilities are available for dogs?

There are water bowls outside the toilet block, as well as dog hooks dotted around. Please ensure you bag your dog waste and put it in the bin. Dog treats are available to buy in the Bothy Tearoom and doggy ice-cream.

There is one dog bin located in the lower car park.

The Wider Colby Estate and dogs

We are currently working on a number of new trails that will be available to view on our website in 2023. In the meantime, the wider Estate comprises of approximately 800 acres teeming with wildlife, including otters, water birds and ground nesting birds. We ask that you keep your dog on a lead at all times if you decide to explore the wider estate.

The wider estate is surrounded by agricultural land that often has livestock like cattle and sheep on.

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.