Visiting Stackpole Estate with your dog

Running with Monty, the well behaved dog along the coastline, Stackpole Quay, Pembrokeshire — Visitor running with Monty, the well behaved dog, along the coastline, Stackpole Quay, Pembrokeshire | © National Trust Images/Ben Selway

If you’re bringing your dog to Stackpole, it’s important to know when and where you can visit beforehand. Well-behaved dogs are welcome at Stackpole all year round, and there are plenty of places to take your four-legged friend while you're here. Please help keep Stackpole enjoyable for everyone by keeping your dog under close control, cleaning up after them and following the guidance below.

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.

Stackpole is a one 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.

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

Where can my dog go at Stackpole?

Dogs are welcome across the wider Stackpole Estate, along the coast path from Stackpole Quay, and on the beach at Barafundle Bay, Broad Haven South and Freshwater West all year round.

They can also be taken inside visitor reception areas, the exhibition room, indoor picnic areas and the Boathouse tearoom.

There are many great walking routes across the Stackpole estate that are ideal to explore with your dog all year round. These take between one and three hours to complete. For more information, please speak to a member of the visitor welcome team.

What facilities are available for dogs?

There are water bowls outside every toilet block and plenty of bins for dog waste across the estate.

What do I need to be aware of?

There are lots of farm animals across the Stackpole Estate, including cattle and occasionally ponies. The estate is also teeming with wildlife, including otters, water birds and ground nesting birds. We ask that you keep your dog under close control and on a lead if necessary. You are also advised not to leave your pet in the car, as our car parks offer very limited shade. Please speak to the visitor welcome team if you require any more information.

Monty, a well behaved dog, the Boat House, Stackpole Quay, Pembrokeshire | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

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