Walking your dog at Plymbridge
- Published:
- 23 February 2023
With miles of paths through woodland, moorland and the river valley, there's plenty for your four-legged friends to enjoy at Plymbridge. Discover the best dog-friendly walking routes and what there is to see through the seasons.
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.
Plymbridge is a one pawprint rated place.
Dogs are welcome here, but facilities are limited. They’ll be able to stretch their legs in the car park
and walk in the nearby open spaces, depending on the season. Read on to discover exactly where
you can take your dog.
Where can I take my dog at Plymbridge?
There are acres of parkland and woods where they can exercise off the lead whilst under close control, and some lead only spaces where dogs can enjoy all the smells, sights and sounds of the countryside just outside the city. All of these lead only areas will be signposted.
Dog waste bins
There are lots of dog waste bins around Plymbridge. Please clear up after your pet and use the bins provided. If you can't find a bin, please take your waste home. Leaving bagged waste in the countryside is a hazard to wildlife and livestock.
These rules are in place to make sure everyone can enjoy their visit to Plymbridge, to help look after the landscape, and to ensure the wellbeing of livestock and wildlife.
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 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.