Visiting Kedleston with your dog

Dog walking at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome throughout the Kedleston garden and parkland. Whether you like a gentle stroll or a longer, bracing walk, exploring the acres of countryside with your dog is one of the best ways to experience the parkland at Kedleston Hall.

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.

Kedleston 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.

Adults and children walking a dog in autumn with Kedleston Hall behind them — Autumn at Kedleston Hall | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Where can my dog go?

Plan your dog walk and help us to keep Kedleston a safe and enjoyable place for you and your dog, other visitors and wildlife.

We welcome dogs in all outdoor areas at Kedleston, but we do ask that you keep your dog on a lead at all times. We also welcome dogs in the restaurant.

Look out for livestock

Sheep and Dexter cows graze in most areas of the parkland and are easily spooked, which can be dangerous. Please help us protect the animals by keeping your dog on a lead to minimise stress to the animals (including nesting birds) that call the parkland their home.

Where can’t my dog go?

Only assistance dogs are allowed inside the house, shop and toilets – please make sure they are wearing an identity harness.

We are unable to provide shaded parking at Kedleston and ask that you keep your dog safe and don’t leave them in the car.

A close up of a dog and visitor — Looking forward to fresh air | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Facilities available for my dog

In case your dog is thirsty after all the fun at Kedleston, there are water bowls near the restaurant and visitor reception.

Dog waste can be very dangerous for agricultural animals, spreading disease and in some cases abortion of calves. In the interest of both your safety and the Dexter cows, we ask that everyone clears up after their pets.

There are five dedicated dog bins along the long and the short walk, locations can be found on this map.

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