Visiting Wimpole Estate with your dog

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.

Wimpole Estate 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 at Wimpole Estate?

Dogs are welcome on a short lead throughout the parkland, in our visitor welcome building, outside on the terrace at the Old Rectory Restaurant and both indoors and outdoors at the Stables Cafe.

There are several great dog-friendly walking routes to enjoy, speak to a member of the team at visitor reception for more information. 

Where can't my dog go at Wimpole Estate?

Only assistance dogs are permitted in the Hall, Gardens, Home Farm and indoors at the Old Rectory Restaurant. 

What facilities are available for dogs?

There are water bowls outside the Stables Cafe and on the outdoor terrace by the Old Rectory Restaurant, and plenty of bins for dog waste around the grounds. 

What do I need to be aware of? 

Wimpole's parkland is home to our livestock year round, so we ask dog owners to keep their dog on a short lead at all times. You are also advised not to leave your dog in the car, as the car park offers limited shade. 

How to behave around livestock

Since March 2024, the Wimpole Estate farm team has recorded 36 incidents of dogs being off lead around livestock, particularly sheep. Sadly, sheep have died in both 2024 and 2025 as a result of injuries caused by dogs, and there have also been multiple incidents of dogs loose among cattle. To protect animal welfare and keep everyone safe, dogs must be kept on leads and under close control near livestock at all times. If you are concerned about the welfare of any of our animals, please contact us on 01223206000.

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