Visiting Brimham Rocks with your dog

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.

Brimham Rocks 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.

We've missed out on a third pawprint rating, but only as we don't have any indoor facilities to eat and drink with your dog. The refreshment kiosk is just right for a countryside place like Brimham.

What do I need to be aware of at Brimham Rocks?

You can take your dog with you everywhere at Brimham, but they must be kept on a short lead at all times.

Walking your dog near cows

Cows graze on some parts of the moors from May to October. Cows are naturally curious, so if they approach, walk slowly with your dog by your sidel. If you feel threatened, let go of your dog – it can run faster than cattle and escape. Once you're safe, regain control of your dog.

Breeding birds

Brimham Rocks' moorland an important breeding site for ground nesting birds which are vulnerable to curious dogs when they’re sitting on eggs and raising chicks.

Moorland species such as the curlew, cuckoo and night jar use the moors as a safe place to breed and raise their young.

Please stick to footpaths and keep your dog on a lead during at all times but especially during nesting season (1 March to 31 July). These restrictions are vital to help us give breeding birds the best chance of success.

Look out for any notices when you're walking your dog. Sometimes we might have to restrict the places you can take your dog, if we're doing work on the moorland, for instance.

What facilities are available for my dog?

Water bowls are available throughout the site.

There are several dog waste bins around the grounds which are marked on the map and plenty of dog-friendly walks. You can request a map upon arrival, or find a link to a downloadable map here.

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.