Roundhay Park and Waterloo Lake Loop
West Yorkshire
Roundhay Park covers more than 700 acres of parkland, lakes, woodland and gardens on the north-east edge of Leeds, where dogs can go off lead away from the roads and the ornamental gardens covered by the local dog control order. It was a medieval hunting park before Thomas Nicholson bought the northern part of the estate in 1803 and flooded old quarries and coal workings to create the Upper Lake and Waterloo Lake, and added a castle folly on the slope above. This 2.6km loop starts at the Lakeside car park at the end of Park Avenue, by the Lakeside Cafe, and makes a full circuit of Waterloo Lake, the larger of the two lakes, with woodland on the far shore and open grass on the near side. It is flat and easy on well-made paths, taking about 50 minutes, and it is simple to add the Upper Lake, the Ravine or the castle for a longer walk.
This dog friendly walk is one of the busiest in Leeds, so expect lots of other dogs, runners and families. The open grass and the woodland on the far side of the lake give room for a dog with good recall to run, but keep your dog on a lead near the car parks, the cafe and the main paths at busy times. There is no livestock. The lake is home to wildfowl, so keep dogs out of the water and away from the birds. Parking is free, and there are toilets and a cafe at the start.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 2.6 km (1.6 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 50 min
- Walk Type
- Park, Lake, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Lakeside Cafe and toilets at the start; more cafes near Canal Gardens and the Mansion.
- Parking
- Lakeside car park at the end of Park Avenue, free; four other free car parks around Roundhay Park.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Roundhay Park and Waterloo Lake Loop, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in West YorkshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Roundhay Park and Waterloo Lake Loop dog friendly?
Roundhay Park and Waterloo Lake Loop is a solid choice for dogs, earning a 7 out of 10 on our dog friendly rating. Dogs are welcome across most of the park's 700-plus acres, though a local dog control order applies in the ornamental gardens, so you'll want to keep that in mind when planning your route. There's no livestock on this walk, parking is free, and there's a cafe and toilets right at the start.
Can dogs be off lead at Roundhay Park and Waterloo Lake Loop?
Yes, dogs can go off lead away from the roads and the ornamental gardens, which are covered by a local dog control order. The open grassland along the near side of the lake and the woodland on the far shore give a dog with good recall plenty of room to roam. That said, this is one of the busiest walks in Leeds, so it's worth keeping your dog on the lead near the car parks, the cafe and the main paths at peak times.
What should I know before visiting Roundhay Park and Waterloo Lake Loop with my dog?
The route is a flat, well-surfaced 2.6km loop around Waterloo Lake, taking around 50 minutes, so it's easy going for dogs of most ages and fitness levels. Waterloo Lake is home to wildfowl, so keep your dog out of the water and away from the birds. It's a popular spot, meaning you can expect plenty of other dogs, runners and families, particularly at weekends — good recall and a lead for busier stretches will make your visit more relaxed.
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