Tanfield Railway

Tanfield Railway is a working heritage steam railway near Durham, running through the North East countryside with your dog aboard at no extra charge. Dogs are welcome on the trains and on station platforms, kept on a lead throughout and the railway also welcomes them in its cafés so you can grab a drink and a bite without leaving anyone behind.

Trains operate on Sundays and bank holidays from mid-February to mid-October, plus Saturdays during the school summer holidays, with extra special-event days through the year. Most services are dog-friendly, though afternoon tea carriages, the North Pole Express and some character and fish-and-chip trains exclude dogs, so check the schedule if you're planning around a special event.

Free on-site parking is available at Andrews House station at Marley Hill and at East Tanfield station. Dogs must stay off the seats and remain on a lead at all times, but the railway gives you a proper steam-train day out together rather than another walk where one of you waits in the car park.