Croxteth Country Park
Merseyside
Croxteth Hall and Country Park was the ancestral home of the Molyneux family, Earls of Sefton, from the sixteenth century until 1972, when the estate passed to Merseyside County Council. A resident deer herd and grazing farmland mean a lead is needed for dogs across most of the park. The 500 acre park keeps its Victorian walled garden, home farm with rare breeds and a lake, set within wide parkland and mature woodland that were once part of a private deer park. This roughly 5.8km circuit follows the main paths around the park's perimeter and through its woodland, passing the hall, the farm buildings and the lake, on flat, easy going tracks and grass paths throughout, with no stiles or climbing.
This is a dog friendly country park, and the wide, easy tracks make for relaxed dog walking, but the park is a recognised wildlife site with a resident herd of deer, so dogs are best kept on a lead here rather than let loose to chase. Dogs are not allowed inside the hall, the walled garden or the home farm, though the wider parkland and woodland are open to them. Foxes, woodpeckers and a healthy bat population also live in the park. The lake gives waterfowl to watch from a distance rather than a swimming spot. Parking and entry to the country park are free, though the hall, garden and farm charge for entry, and there are toilets and a cafe on site.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 5.8 km (3.6 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 40 min
- Walk Type
- Park, Historic, Woodland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Low
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Cafe and toilets near the main car park; picnic areas.
- Parking
- Free car park off Croxteth Hall Lane (L12 0HU), Liverpool City Council.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Croxteth Country Park, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Croxteth Country Park dog friendly?
Yes, it scores 7 out of 10 for dog friendliness. The park is free to enter, has wide, flat tracks that suit any dog, and a cafe and toilets on site. The score reflects the resident deer herd, which means dogs are best kept on a lead, and the fact that dogs cannot go inside the hall, walled garden or home farm.
Can dogs be off lead at Croxteth Country Park?
Dogs are generally best kept on a lead at Croxteth, since the park is a recognised wildlife site with a resident deer herd as well as foxes and other wildlife that a loose dog might chase. The wide parkland and woodland tracks still make for a pleasant walk on the lead, and there is plenty of space to cover without needing to let a dog run free.
What should I know before visiting Croxteth Country Park with my dog?
The country park itself is free to enter and park at, though the hall, walled garden and home farm charge for entry and do not allow dogs inside. A resident deer herd lives in the park, so keep dogs on a lead to avoid any chase. The paths are flat and easy throughout, and there is a cafe and toilets near the main car park.
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