Bowness-on-Solway to Port Carlisle
Cumbria
Bowness-on-Solway sits on the Solway Firth at the western end of Hadrian's Wall, on the site of the Roman fort of Maia, with Roman stone visible in the walls of St Michael's Church. Cattle graze the surrounding marshes for much of the year, so dogs stay on a lead. This out and back walk follows the start of the Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail for a mile along the Solway shore to the tiny former port of Port Carlisle, once a busy harbour built for a canal that linked Carlisle to the sea. The ground is flat throughout, barely rising above sea level, with wide views across the marshes to Dumfries and Galloway. The path mixes a quiet lane with a raised track along the marsh edge.
This is a dog friendly stretch of a very long distance trail, with a flat, easy surface that suits dogs of any age or fitness. Cattle graze the surrounding salt marshes between May and October, and the marshes are an internationally important habitat for wintering and breeding birds, including thousands of barnacle geese, so dogs are best kept close or on a lead rather than roaming free. This section of path sits at sea level and can flood at high spring tides, so it should be avoided an hour either side of a high tide, and the Solway's sands and mud channels are dangerous underfoot and best left alone. Bowness-on-Solway has no car park, but the King's Arms in the village welcomes dogs for food and drink.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 3.6 km (2.2 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr
- Walk Type
- Coastal, Historic
- Route Type
- Out and Back
- Off Lead Potential
- Low
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- The King's Arms in Bowness-on-Solway village is dog friendly for food and drink; nothing else on the path itself.
- Parking
- No dedicated car park in Bowness-on-Solway; limited roadside parking in the village, or use the seasonal Solway coast bus.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Bowness-on-Solway to Port Carlisle, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Keepers Cottage - Hoddom
Sleeps 2 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £543 / 7 nights
Booking links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. Prices are a guide only and change with dates and availability.
All dog friendly stays in CumbriaFrequently Asked Questions
Is Bowness-on-Solway to Port Carlisle dog friendly?
Bowness-on-Solway to Port Carlisle scores 7 out of 10 for dog friendliness. It is a flat, easy stretch of the Hadrian's Wall Path along the Solway shore, with big skies and a dog friendly pub at the start and finish. It loses marks because the marshes are grazed by cattle for much of the year and are important for nesting and wintering birds, so there is little scope to let a dog roam free, and part of the path can flood at high tide.
Can dogs be off lead at Bowness-on-Solway to Port Carlisle?
There is limited scope for time off lead here. Cattle graze the salt marshes on either side of the path between May and October, and the marshes are an internationally important site for breeding and wintering birds, so dogs are best kept close or on a lead rather than allowed to range across the open marsh. The path itself is flat and easy, so a controlled dog can still cover the distance comfortably.
What should I know before visiting Bowness-on-Solway to Port Carlisle with my dog?
Check tide times before you go: the path between Bowness-on-Solway and Port Carlisle sits at sea level and can flood around high spring tides. Cattle graze the marshes for much of the year, so keep your dog close or on a lead. Never let a dog go down onto the Solway's sands or mud channels, which are dangerous. There is no dedicated car park in Bowness-on-Solway, but the King's Arms pub welcomes dogs at either end of the walk.
Visitor Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience.
Roadside parking near the King's Arms, Bowness-on-Solway, Wigton CA7 5AF
54.9519, -3.2151
Get DirectionsWhat’s Nearby?
Beach8.9 mi awaySilloth Beach
Cumbria
A wide Solway Coast beach backed by a large seafront green in the Victorian planned town of Silloth, with year-round dog access, views across to Scotland and a traditional seaside atmosphere.
Attraction11.5 mi awayCarlisle Castle
Cumbria
One of the most besieged castles in England, with open grass inside the curtain wall for your dog, in the middle of Carlisle.
Walk12.4 mi awayRickerby Park and the River Eden
Cumbria
Open grassland gives a dog with good recall room to roam in Carlisle's Rickerby Park, crossing the River Eden by suspension footbridge on the way back.
Walk14.1 mi awayByreburn Forest and the Fairy Loup, Canonbie
Dumfries and Galloway
A forest walk from Canonbie through tall Douglas fir to the Fairy Loup waterfall, with room for dogs to roam along the way.
Walk14.5 mi awayLochmaben Castle and Castle Loch Circular
Dumfries and Galloway
An almost level lochside loop to the ruins of Lochmaben Castle, with boardwalks and wildlife hides giving dogs and their humans plenty to see.
Beach15 mi awayAllonby Beach
Cumbria
A vast, dog friendly Solway Coast beach within an AONB with year-round unrestricted access, spectacular sunsets over Scotland and the famous dog-friendly Sandy Cafe on the seafront.