Things To Do In The Lake District With Dogs
The Lake District is the biggest national park in England and is well known for its breathtaking scenery, incredible walks and many cultural attractions. The Lake District is also very dog friendly making it a fantastic place to take your four legged friend for days out, short breaks and adventures.
In this post we list some of the top things to do in the Lake District with dogs that the whole family can enjoy.
Things to do in the Lake District with dogs
Hope Cafe in Keswick
Aira Force in Ullswater
Allan Bank near Grasmere
Furness Abbey in Barrow-in-Furness
Ravenglass Beach
Hope Cafe in Hope Park, Keswick
Keswick has been named Britain’s most dog friendly town so a visit here is a must with your faithful friend. Hope Park has a woodland walk, multiple picnic areas, a miniature boating lake (a replica of Derwentwater), crazy golf, a putting green and a 5 star cafe and well behaved dogs on leads are welcome in all of them. We reckon their favourite place will be in Hope Cafe though, as they have a special doggy menu.
Dogs can choose from treats like sausages and gravy, scrambled egg or chicken and rice, finished with a doggy frozen yoghurt.
When strolling through the park, make sure to visit the memorial statue of Max the Miracle Dog. During lockdown, livestreams of him and his owner going on walks helped many people, and Max even won an Order of Merit from the PDSA for his services to helping people’s mental health.
Aira Force in Ullswater
Aira Force in Ullswater is a 65 foot waterfall set amongst the grounds of an old 18th Century pleasure garden. There are various trails to walk the within grounds with differing lengths, depending on your preference, so it’s the perfect place to take a stroll with your dog. It has a 3 pawprint rating on the National Trust’s rating system, meaning its amongst the best places in their network you can enjoy a day out with your dog.
There are water bowls around the grounds and in the onsite tea room so your dog can stay hydrated.
You’re likely to come across lots of wildlife and farm animals during your walk so dogs must be on a lead and you must follow The Canine Code.
Allan bank near Grasmere
Allan Bank house is a grade II listed house, just outside of the village of Grasmere. The site is owned by the National Trust but is not your typical historic property. Once the home of famous Poet William Wordsworth, it was damaged by fire in 2011 and has since been restored and re-opened to the public, but not totally in its former guise.
Set amongst stunning 19th Century pleasure grounds and overlooking the Grasmere landscape, it’s the perfect place to take your dog and enjoy an inspiring and relaxing day.
At Allan Bank, dogs are allowed in both the grounds and the house so your furry friend doesn’t have to miss out on any of the day. There is no onsite food outlet but you are allowed to take a picnic along to enjoy in the grounds or in the house plus you can help yourself to free hot drinks inside.
It has a 3 pawprint rating on the National Trust’s rating system, meaning its amongst the best places in their network you can enjoy a day out with your dog. To protect local wildlife, dogs must be on a lead from the bottom of the driveway and you must follow The Canine Code. There is a water bowl for dogs by the front door.
Furness Abbey in Barrow-in-Furness
The impressive ruins of Furness Abbey make a great day out for you and your dog. The vast size of the remains give you a clue as to the sheer size and power this old Abbey held and, today, means there is ample space for exploring. There is no onsite cafe but there are picnic spots plus vending machines in the gift shop with hot drinks and snacks. Your dog must be on a lead at all times but there are various trails around the grounds you can walk with your four legged friend.
This site is owned and managed by English Heritage, there is a car park plus toilets onsite.
Ravenglass Beach
This beautiful beach is dog friendly all year round, meaning you can enjoy a day out along the coast any time of year with your dog. This sand and shingle mix beach has former fisherman’s cottages running along its length and the impressive Muncaster Castle not too far away, so you’ll have great scenery as you take a stroll.
Car parking is available in the town of Ravenglass, as well as cafes so you can grab a bit to eat or a coffee after your stroll.
These are just a handful of our favourites out of the many things to do in the Lake District with dogs, covering a variety of activities so there will be something to suit everyone. Why not make your day out a short break and stay in one of the many dog friendly cottages and holiday lets available in the Lake District. Sally’s Cottages, Canine Cottages and Dog Friendly Lake District all provide information on the best places to stay with your dog.
If you have visited Cumbria with your dog recently, let us know what you thought of the activities and beautiful walks in the area. If you have any suggestions let us know in the comments below.
As always, sharing is caring so make sure to share this guide with your family and friends and inspire them to head off on their own English adventure.
