Visiting Toys Hill with your dog

Visitor dog walking at Ickworth, Suffolk — Bring your dog on a visit to Toys Hill | © National Trust Images/Rob Stothard

Toys Hill is a fantastic destination for you and your dog to get walking out in the Kent countryside, with plenty of local paths and other nearby National Trust properties to visit along the way.

Where can my dog go?

You're more than welcome to bring your dog to Toys Hill. In the woodland, dogs can be off the lead, but we ask that they're kept on a lead around livestock and near busy roads.

Where can't my dog go?

If you plan to visit nearby Emmetts Garden, please be aware that they have their own dog policy, including asking all dogs to be kept on a lead within the gardens themselves. If you think you're going to walk through, either on the public footpath or make a longer visit, please take a look at Emmetts Garden’s dog walking page.

Facilities available for my dog

Water bowls can be found at nearby Emmetts Garden, with one outside the Old Stables Tea Room easily accessible.

Please keep the countryside clean and safe for everyone to enjoy by picking up after your dog. The dog bin can be found in the car park.

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