Children and dog at Bosherston Lake, Stackpole, Pembrokeshire | © National Trust Images/Mark Saunders

Dog-friendly places in Wales

From mountains and beaches, to gardens and parklands, find a dog walk in Wales that both you and your four-legged friend will love. Here’s your guide to some of the best dog-friendly places to visit in Wales.

Have a stroll along parkland routes, explore castle grounds or escape to the wilderness of Snowdonia.

A visitor and dog walking beside the Glaslyn river, Craflwyn and Beddgelert, Wales

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Snowdonia

Follow in the footsteps of legends with a gentle stroll to Gelert's grave in Beddgelert or escape the crowds with quiet countryside walks in Dolmelynllyn and Ysbyty Ifan. Help keep livestock and wildlife safe by always keeping your dog on a lead.

A dachshund wearing a purple checked coat, on the lead, with autumn leaves on the grass around it, at Bodnant Garden, North Wales

Place

Bodnant Garden

- With 80 acres of gardens to explore, there’s a walk for everyone at Bodnant Garden. Dogs are welcome on short leads from Thursday to Sunday, from 1 April to the 30 September, and every day from 1 October to 31 March.

Dog on a lead at Nostell Priory in West Yorkshire

Place

Plas yn Rhiw

Explore paths through the lower woodland with your dog at Plas yn Rhiw, or relax in the tea-room courtyard with a tasty snack or two. Assistance dogs only in the main garden, upper woodland and house.

A dog with curly hair sits on a stack of wood next to a colourful toy train and a '50 things' sign at Erddig, Clwyd

Place

Erddig Hall and Garden

The parkland at Erddig is the perfect place for your dogs where they can enjoy ample space to sniff, jump and splash, and there’s a designated off-lead area. Assistance dogs only in the main garden and house.

Visitors walking in the parkland with their dog at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire

Place

Chirk Castle

Bring your dog to explore 480 acres of estate and parkland at Chirk Castle where they can sniff their way around three waymarked trails. Being a working estate, make sure you keep them on a lead. Assistance dogs only in the main garden and castle.

A close up of a panting dog sat down and being stroked by its owners, taken in the garden at Hanbury Hall and Gardens, Worcestershire

Place

Plas Newydd House and Garden

Enjoy a walk along the Menai Straits through the Rhododendron Garden, Camellia Dell, Arboretum and Church Wood. To help keep wildlife safe (especially our red squirrels) please keep your dogs on a lead. Assistance dogs only in the terrace garden and house.

An image of a pale cream fluffy dog between its two owners being walked along a path in the countryside and surrounded by greenery

Place

Penrhyn Castle and Garden

Penrhyn is perfect for canine companions, with top-quality trails to sniff and bushes to explore. We do ask that you keep wet noses away from the delicate flowers in the walled garden and on a short lead, but please feel free to let your imagination run wild.

Enjoy some time out and soak up the views of a medieval castle and the Welsh countryside.

Dog walking on the Holnicote Estate, Somerset

Place

Llanerchaeron

Dogs are welcome to explore the parkland and woodland walks, however as Llanerchaeron is a working farm with livestock, only assistance dogs are allowed inside the main estate gates which includes the house, garden, lakes and farm.

Close-up of a visitor holding their dog on a lead at the Vyne, Hampshire

Place

Powis Castle and Garden

Dogs can visit the garden at Powis Castle from 1 November to 28 February, however they are welcome in the main courtyard throughout the year where you and your four-legged friends can enjoy refreshments from the Courtyard Café.

Explore footpaths galore from formal gardens to woodland walks and stop for a snack at a dog-friendly café after your adventure.

Two people walking their dogs on the estate at Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire, Wales

Place

Dinefwr

Dinefwr is a great place for your four-legged friend with a dog-friendly café and they can explore the ground level of the house. There’s a couple of marked trails to explore on the estate, however only assistance dogs on the Boardwalk and deer park.

Dog walking in the garden at Dunster Castle, Somerset

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Tredegar House

Tredegar loves dogs. You can wander around the parkland and formal gardens as you please and finish off with special dog treats at the tea-room. Don’t forget to pick up a dog walking leaflet.

Dog sitting in the grass next to its owner, on Marsden Moor, West Yorkshire

Place

Dolaucothi

Dogs are welcome everywhere at Dolaucothi, from the tours of the Roman gold mine to the miles of footpaths to explore across the wider estate.

Visitors walking their dogs in the bluebell woodland at Hatchlands Park, Surrey

Place

Dyffryn Gardens

Dogs are welcome in the gardens on a short lead. There’s more than 55 acres to explore, with intimate garden rooms, formal lawns and an extensive arboretum.

From stunning coastal strolls on the Llyn Peninsula, to long stretches of golden sand on the Gower, there’s plenty of opportunity for a splash and explore with your canine friends.

A dog running on the beach at Pennard, Gower in Wales

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Gower

There are a number of dog friendly beaches and coastal walks on the Gower, including Rhosili, Three Cliffs Bay, Tor Bay, Whitford and Pwll Du. Help us keep the coast safe by keeping your dog under close control and picking up their litter.

A man walking his dog on the footpath at Southwood Estate with the sea in the background in Pembrokeshire, Wales

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Pembrokeshire

Escape to the Western edge of Wales with your four-legged friends. Enjoy coastal walks in Stackpole, St David’s Peninsula, Abereiddi to Abermawr, Solva Coast and Southwood Estate. Help us keep the coast safe by keeping your dog under close control and picking up their litter.

Dog on Llanbedrog beach in summer, with two people walking in the distance, Llŷn Peninsula, Wales

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Llŷn Peninsula

Enjoy splashing in the sea at Llanbedrog, rolling on the whistling sands of Porthor or walking the headland at Porthdinllaen. Llŷn Peninsula is a great place for your four-legged companion, however some restrictions apply during the summer.

These hand-picked dog walks explore a variety of scenic trails that will get the heart pumping.

Visitors in the gardens at Christmas, Tredegar House, Newport, Wales

Trail

Tredegar's lakeside walk

Discover nature and wildlife on a lakeside walk at Tredegar House estate. See birds nesting on the lake and the last of the Oak Avenues in the park. Suitable for all the family to enjoy.

Path along the river in Beddgelert, Snowdonia, Wales

Trail

Gelert's grave walk

This walk leads you from the village centre, along River Glaslyn's banks to Gelert's grave site. You'll also discover the legend of Gelert & Prince Llywelyn which gave the village its name.