Washington Wetlands and River Wear Walk

Dogs are welcome on the public riverside path through James Steel Park and along the River Wear corridor, making it a pleasant stretch for a relaxed walk with your dog. It's worth knowing that the WWT Washington Wetland Centre reserve itself does not permit dogs, so this route sticks to the public footpaths outside the reserve boundary. The paths are level tarmac and compacted stone, and there's a free car park at James Steel Park off Pattinson Road.

Dogs are welcome but should be kept under close control throughout, and the advice is to keep them on the lead near the water's edge, the slipway, and around the Victoria Viaduct foundations. The route does have open grass areas in James Steel Park nearby, which gives a little more room to stretch legs, but this isn't a dedicated off-lead space. Given the riverside wildlife — herons, kingfishers and swans are regularly spotted along this stretch of the Wear — keeping dogs leashed near the water is particularly important.

The key thing to be aware of is that dogs are not allowed inside the WWT Washington reserve itself — this walk follows the public footpaths along the outside of the reserve boundary, which is where dogs are permitted. The paths are fully pushchair friendly and the free car park at James Steel Park off Pattinson Road is a convenient starting point. There are pubs in nearby Fatfield if you're after a post-walk stop, though the seasonal café at WWT Washington is only accessible to paying visitors entering the reserve, which rules it out for dog owners.