Ros Castle and Hepburn Wood
Northumberland
Ros Castle is a 315 metre summit on the moors above Chillingham, crowned by the ramparts of an Iron Age hillfort, and on a clear day seven castles can be seen from the top. Dogs are welcome in Hepburn Wood below, where a dog with good recall can have some freedom among the trees, though the open moor above is farmed, with sheepfolds and ground-nesting birds that call for a lead in spring. This 5.5km lollipop loop from the free Hepburn Wood car park follows the lane briefly before a steep pull up onto Ros Hill, crosses the heather of Hepburn Moor and returns down through the forest. There is about 247 metres of climbing on steep, rocky paths, moorland trods between heather and bracken, and woodland tracks that are overgrown and slippery in places. The summit also looks over the park at Chillingham that is home to Britain's only herd of wild white cattle.
This dog friendly walk packs a lot into a couple of hours, and dogs are welcome in Hepburn Wood, which is shared with mountain bikers and horse riders. In the forest a dog with good recall can have some freedom, but the open moor above is farmed, with sheepfolds dotted across it, and ground-nesting birds breed in the heather in spring, so plan on a lead there. Bracken on the moor is prime tick country in summer, so check your dog afterwards. There is little water on the hill. Parking is free, but there are no toilets or cafe.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 5.5 km (3.4 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 2 hr
- Walk Type
- Historic, Forest, Moorland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Picnic area at the car park; no toilets or cafe. Nearest refreshments in Chatton and Chillingham.
- Parking
- Hepburn Wood car park, Forestry England, free. Limited verge parking at the foot of Ros Castle.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Ros Castle and Hepburn Wood, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in NorthumberlandFrequently Asked Questions
Is Ros Castle and Hepburn Wood dog friendly?
Yes, dogs are welcome here, and the walk earns a 7/10 for dog friendliness. Hepburn Wood is open to dogs and makes for a lovely stretch of the route, though the open moorland above is farmed, so you'll need to be more mindful up there. It's a great outing for dogs that are reasonably well-behaved around wildlife and livestock.
Can dogs be off lead at Ros Castle and Hepburn Wood?
Dogs with good recall can enjoy some freedom in Hepburn Wood, where they can roam among the trees. On the open moor above, however, leads are strongly recommended — the land is farmed, there are sheepfolds dotted across it, and ground-nesting birds breed in the heather during spring. It's also worth noting that the wood is shared with mountain bikers and horse riders, so a reliable recall is handy there too.
What should I know before visiting Ros Castle and Hepburn Wood with my dog?
This is a fairly demanding walk — 5.5km with around 247 metres of climbing on steep, rocky paths and woodland tracks that can be overgrown and slippery in places, so it suits confident, fit dogs best. There's very little water on the hill, so bring your own for your dog. In summer, the bracken on the moor is prime tick habitat, so a thorough check after the walk is a good idea. Parking is free at the Hepburn Wood car park, but there are no toilets or cafe on site — the nearest refreshments are in Chatton and Chillingham.
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