Visiting Packwood with your dog

Dogs welcome at Attingham Park, Shropshire — Dogs are welcome at Packwood House | © National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor

If you're bringing your dog to Packwood, there are plenty of woodland and countryside walks to enjoy. Discover where you can take your dog at Packwood, from the public footpaths across the estate to the café terrace for a well-earned rest.

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.

Packwood House 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.

Where can my dog go?

Dogs on leads are very welcome at Packwood on public footpaths across the estate, café terrace, in the car park and the barnyard. A member of the welcome team is usually on hand and will be happy to help if you need any assistance to ensure you and your dog have an enjoyable visit.

Dogs assisting visitors with disabilities are welcome inside the house, garden, café and shops.

Discover beautiful walks with your dog

Packwood is nestled within the Warwickshire countryside and there are some lovely walks across the fields, along the local canals and through the woodland for you to enjoy.

Pop into the new build at the start of your visit to pick up one of the free walking maps and speak to a member of staff about the best routes to explore with your dog.

Visitor dog walking at Ickworth, Suffolk — Discover Packwood with your dog | © National Trust Images/Rob Stothard

Livestock around Packwood

Sheep and cattle frequently graze in the fields surrounding Packwood, so we ask you to be mindful while walking your dog, especially if they are on an extendable lead. Help keep the countryside a safe, healthy and enjoyable place for you, your dog, other visitors, wildlife and livestock.

Where can't my dog go?

Assistance dogs only in the house and formal gardens here at Packwood.

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

A dog on a lead sits patiently next to its owner with a bowl of water at Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire, Wales — Water bowls for dogs are available at Packwood | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Facilities available for your dog

Water bowls are available in the barnyard and on the café terrace. Don't forget to pop into the shop to treat your pooch to some well-earned treats or a new accessory for your next outdoor adventure.