Visiting Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal with your dog

Visitors dog walking at Fountains Abbey — Bring your four legged friends for an autumnal walk at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

With acres of land to explore, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is a great place to come for some exercise with your dog. There are plenty of places to discover and walks to enjoy through the water garden, abbey and deer park. Find out where you can go with your dog, what facilities are available to them and other important information.

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.

Fountains Abbey is a three pawprint rated place.

Three pawprints shows the very best places you can visit for a day with your dog. You’ll be able to take your dog to most areas, including indoors for a cup of tea and a treat. There’ll be clearly signed dog zones and dog-friendly experiences. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

Pooch Passport

We're working together with Forthglade to help you and your dog get the most out if your visits to the places we care for. As part of this, we've launched a Pooch Passport.

You can pick up your Pooch Passport from any admission point. Collect six stamps from six different participating places and you'll receive a pack of free Fourthglade treats for your dog. Visit 12 different places and you'll get a doggy bandana! There are 8 participating properties in Yorkshire and over 100 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland so wherever you are you'll find a place to visit near you! The Pooch Passport is valid until 28 February 2025. Find out more here.

Where can my dog go?

We love welcoming waggy tails to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. Dogs are allowed in all outdoor spaces throughout the grounds, but please keep them on a short lead at all times. They're also welcome in the visitor centre restaurant.

Where can’t my dog go?

Please don't take your dog into Fountains Hall, Porters Lodge or Studley tea-room. They'll need to stay out of the children's play area too.

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.

Facilities 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 you'll receive upon arrival.

What else do I need to be aware of at Fountains Abbey?

Look out for any local notices when you're out walking your dog here. There are deer and cows roaming the the Studley deer park and during certain times of the year there may be areas that are restricted - such as during fawning season.