Dog Walking in the Lake District

The Lake District is broadly good for dogs. Most fells are open, most pubs welcome them, and the lake shores are accessible. Here is the practical version of that.

Fell walking with dogs: the livestock rule

Dogs are permitted on virtually all fell paths including the Wainwrights. The constraint is livestock. The Lakes are a working farming landscape and sheep are everywhere. Dogs that chase sheep can legally be shot by farmers. March to May is lambing season and requires particular care. On enclosed ground below the fell walls, dogs should be on leads wherever sheep are visible. On the open fell tops above the wall line, the risk is lower but use judgment.

Best walks with dogs

• →Catbells (CA12 5UQ via Hawes End): open fell, minimal enclosed ground, excellent views. Boat to the start adds novelty.
• →Haystacks (CA13 9XA, Gatesgarth Farm): Wainwright's favourite, small tarns on the summit, dogs can run freely on the tops.
• →Tarn Hows (LA21 8DP): flat circular, must be on leads near grazing areas but the path is easy for any dog.
• →Ullswater lakeshore path (CA11 0PD, Glenridding): 6 miles, mostly flat, lake shore the whole way. Dogs welcome on the Ullswater Steamers.
• →Grizedale Forest (LA22 0QJ): woodland trails, leads on the main routes, red squirrels in the upper sections.

Dog-friendly pubs

Most walkers' pubs in the Lakes are dog-friendly in the bar area. The best ones for dogs specifically: the Old Dungeon Ghyll in Langdale (LA22 9JU) — dogs are part of the furniture in the hikers' bar. The Wasdale Head Inn (CA20 1EX) — as remote as it gets, dogs very welcome. The Dog and Gun in Keswick (CA12 5JB) — the name is a reasonable clue. The Fish Inn at Buttermere (CA13 9XA) — small, good beer, dogs in the bar.

Ticks

Sheep ticks are present across the Lake District fells, particularly in bracken. After any fell walk, check your dog thoroughly: around ears, groin, between toes, under the collar. Remove ticks with a tick remover tool (not fingers). Lyme disease is present in ticks in the Lakes. Discuss tick prevention with your vet before a Lake District trip if you are not already on preventative treatment.

Blue-green algae

In warm, still summer conditions (usually July to September) blue-green algae can bloom in the Lakes. This is toxic to dogs and can be fatal quickly if ingested. Warnings are posted on the Lake District National Park Authority website and social media when risk is high. Check before letting dogs swim in warm summer conditions.

Damian Roche

Founder, Churchtown Media. Builder of TheLakesGuide.co.uk, TheLakesWildlife.co.uk, and HikeTheLakes.com. Southport-based. Regular Lakes visitor for decades.