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Dog Friendly Walks & Beaches in County Durham

Everything we've reviewed in County Durham. Walks, beaches, and everything in between, built for dog owners who don't leave their dogs behind.

13 locations
Bowlees and the Gibson's Cave Trail walk

Bowlees and the Gibson's Cave Trail

County Durham
Dog Friendly: 8/10

Gentle, dog friendly stroll from Bowlees up a wooded beck to Gibson's Cave, the recess carved behind Summerhill Force.

Durham Cathedral and River Wear Loop walk

Durham Cathedral and River Wear Loop

County Durham
Dog Friendly: 8/10

Urban riverside loop beneath Durham's UNESCO cathedral and castle, dog friendly along the wooded Wear banks with cobbled lanes and peninsula views.

Hamsterley Forest Redway Trail walk

Hamsterley Forest Redway Trail

County Durham
Dog Friendly: 8/10

Waymarked forest loop through oak woodland, burns and conifer stands at Hamsterley, dog friendly with plenty of off lead scope on the forest roads.

Horden Coastal Path and Dene Walk walk

Horden Coastal Path and Dene Walk

County Durham
Dog Friendly: 8/10

Cliff top and dene combo on the Durham Heritage Coast, dog friendly with sea air above and wild garlic in the wooded ravine below.

Low Force and Wynch Bridge Circular walk

Low Force and Wynch Bridge Circular

County Durham
Dog Friendly: 8/10

Short dog friendly loop linking the Low Force cascades, the single-file Wynch Bridge and an easy riverbank return from Bowlees.

Penshaw Monument and Herrington Country Park walk

Penshaw Monument and Herrington Country Park

County Durham
Dog Friendly: 8/10

Landmark circular climbing the Lambton Worm hill to Penshaw Monument, then down across the lakes of Herrington Country Park, dog friendly throughout.

Penshaw Monument and Herrington Country Park Walk walk

Penshaw Monument and Herrington Country Park Walk

County Durham
Dog Friendly: 8/10

An easy loop linking a wide family country park with the climb up to Penshaw Monument, with huge views across Wearside.

Cauldron Snout and Cow Green Reservoir Walk walk

Cauldron Snout and Cow Green Reservoir Walk

County Durham
Dog Friendly: 7/10

Remote Upper Teesdale tramp from the Cow Green dam down to the roaring Cauldron Snout cascade, dog friendly but wild and exposed.

Causey Arch and the River Team Walk walk

Causey Arch and the River Team Walk

County Durham
Dog Friendly: 7/10

Short dog friendly wander around the world's oldest railway arch, with wooded gorge paths dropping to the Causey Burn.

Hardwick Country Park Circular walk

Hardwick Country Park Circular

County Durham
Dog Friendly: 7/10

Easy circuit of a restored 18th century pleasure garden near Sedgefield, dog friendly on lead with a designated off lead exercise area.

High Force Waterfall and Teesdale Walk walk

High Force Waterfall and Teesdale Walk

County Durham
Dog Friendly: 7/10

Riverside Teesdale ramble from Bowlees to England's most dramatic waterfall, dog friendly on lead with real sheep country to respect.

Lanchester Valley Railway Path walk

Lanchester Valley Railway Path

County Durham
Dog Friendly: 7/10

Flat, traffic free former railway running through farmland and the Browney valley, dog friendly with generous off lead stretches between villages.

Washington Wetlands and River Wear Walk walk

Washington Wetlands and River Wear Walk

County Durham
Dog Friendly: 6/10

River Wear path past the WWT Washington wetland reserve, dog friendly on the public riverside section only since the reserve itself does not allow dogs.