Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

Raby Castle, Park and Gardens is a grand medieval fortress with sweeping parkland and formal walled gardens just outside Staindrop, south-west of Durham. Open daily from 10 am to 4 pm, it offers dog owners a proper heritage day out with plenty of space to explore on lead – though the castle itself remains off-limits to ordinary pet dogs.

Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the Walled Gardens and Deer Park and they can join you inside the Coach House Shop and The Vinery Café. The Plotters' Forest and play area are restricted, so stick to the signed routes and you'll have acres of grounds to sniff, stroll and supervise from start to finish.

It's a ticketed attraction – booking online usually gets you the best price on garden entry – and the castle has seasonal opening, so check ahead if you're planning to combine both. Parking is available on site and the whole setup works beautifully for a longer outing when you want history, horticulture and a café stop without leaving the dog behind.