National Trust - Cragside

Britain's original smart home at the heart of a grand fantasy garden.

Dogs are welcome at Cragside - and we love meeting them too. You can walk with them in all outdoor spaces including the gardens and wider grounds. Read here for top tips.

Why you need to keep your dog on a lead
We ask that all dogs are kept on a lead at all times during your visit to Cragside.

This is to help keep you and your dog safe. As the name suggests, Cragside is built on a craggy outcrop with rocky pathways and some cliff edges. Resident wildlife, includes deer, red squirrels and nesting birds around the lakes that could be startled by a roaming dog.

By keeping your dog on a lead you will also help owner with anxious dogs and visitors who are cautious around dogs too.

Where can my dog go?
There are 40-miles of footpaths to explore across this 1,000-acre estate and all of these are accessible for dogs.

They are also welcome in Cragside's shop and tea rooms, where there is a dog-friendly seating area indoors.

Where can't my dog go?
Dogs are not allowed in the House, except assistance dogs.

What facilities are available?
Water bowls

There are water bowls located at the visitor centre courtyard and outside the House.

Dog bins

There are 11 dog bins on the grounds. All locations are marked on the Explore Cragside map with a dog symbol (see the key for details). You will be given a map on arrival and you can pre-download a copy here. The locations are:

- Next to the Archimedes Screw
- Either end of the main car park
- Outside the Bunkhouse
- One on the walking route around Tumbleton Lake
- Formal Garden car park
- Dunkirk car park
- Crozier car park (near the play area)
- Nelly's Moss car park (near labyrinth)
- Two around Nelly's Moss Lakes