Dog Friendly Walks & Beaches in Cumbria

A spectacular National Trust waterfall with winding woodland paths and high viewpoints over Ullswater, a dog friendly favourite.

A vast, dog friendly Solway Coast beach within an AONB with year-round unrestricted access, spectacular sunsets over Scotland and the famous dog-friendly Sandy Cafe on the seafront.

A remote Cumbrian coast beach with the Ravenglass dune system and year-round access, one of the largest sand dune systems in England.

Remote, spacious and with excellent lake access and off-lead potential throughout; the lack of facilities is the only meaningful limitation.

The easiest Wainwright in the Lakes, with the best view over Derwent Water, made for dog friendly families and older dogs.

The most beautiful lakeshore walk in England, a gentle point to point along Ullswater made for dog friendly wanderers.

Grassy paths give a dog room to roam this open limestone common above Morecambe Bay, past a Bronze Age stone circle near Ulverston.

A jewel-like tarn and a sharp little fell with the Langdale Pikes in every view, a dog friendly classic for all abilities.

Excellent lake access, good off-lead stretches and dramatic scenery; leads needed near farmland at the southern end and through the village.

Lakeshore woodland, a Georgian viewing station and rolling heath above Windermere, a three-pawprint dog friendly National Trust favourite.

No livestock on this steep Dodd Wood forest loop means dogs can range freely most of the way to the cleared 502 metre top above Bassenthwaite Lake.

Excellent riverside access, relaxed off-lead potential and a dog-friendly café at the finish make this one of the most enjoyable easy walks in the Lakes.

A quiet Beatrix Potter tarn loop through farmland and reedy shore, a gentle dog friendly walk for all abilities.

Excellent lakeshore access, mostly off-lead walking and easy underfoot; a reliable and rewarding walk for dogs of all ages

A playful forest trail with sculptures and red squirrels, a brilliantly dog friendly outing for families and easy dogs.

A quiet sandy beach at the southern edge of the Lake District coast with year-round access and views across the Duddon Estuary.

Shingle banks for a paddling dog line this short Lune riverside loop from Kirkby Lonsdale's Devil's Bridge, climbing steps to the view Ruskin called the loveliest in England.

Open fell, a tarn for swimming and good off-lead potential across the upper sections make this a strong choice; loses a point for boggy ground and enclosed farmland on the lower approaches.

Dogs can paddle in Holme Wood's shingle bays on this gentle 6.8km circuit of quiet Loweswater, complete with red squirrels and the Holme Force waterfall.

An easy, historic loop through estate parkland and a pretty Cumbrian village, a genuinely dog friendly day out for all abilities.

A short, wooded hill walk with big Ullswater views from an ancient hill fort, ideal as a dog friendly half-day from Pooley Bridge.

Open grassland gives a dog with good recall room to roam in Carlisle's Rickerby Park, crossing the River Eden by suspension footbridge on the way back.

A wide sandy beach on the Cumbrian coast with year-round access and Lakeland fell views, less visited than the tourist beaches.

No livestock in the plantations means dogs can range freely for most of this Whinlatter forest climb to Seat How's rocky top above Bassenthwaite Lake.

A quiet sand and shingle beach below Black Combe with year-round access and dramatic views of the Lakeland fells from the shoreline.

A pebble beach at the start of Wainwright's Coast to Coast walk with year-round access and dramatic red sandstone cliffs to the north.

The River Esk gives a dog pools to cool off in on this Eskdale circuit from the steam railway terminus to Stanley Force, with a pub waiting at Boot.

A short, steep scramble up waterfalls to a wild mountain tarn, a dog friendly half-day with big fell views.

No livestock anywhere at Talkin Tarn means real freedom for a dog on this fully surfaced lake loop, with a lakeside tearoom by the water for you.

Gentle, accessible circuit with good water access and relaxed off-lead potential; leads needed near the car park and in busier sections.

The outer Cumbrian coast beaches on Walney Island with year-round access and a wild, remote feel away from the mainland.

A waterfall, a town favourite and a fine little summit above Windermere, a dog friendly half-day loop straight out of Ambleside.

A remote, wild Cumbrian coast sandy beach south of the Solway with year-round dog access, very few visitors and an open, windswept character typical of the west Cumbrian coast.

A stile-free grass path lets a dog range across Binsey's open hillside, the northernmost Wainwright, with views to Scotland from the summit tumulus.

A wooded river gorge gives dogs on a lead cool shade on this Hadrian's Wall circuit from Birdoswald Roman Fort, with a dog friendly pub at Gilsland.

A fit dog on a lead can handle this steady climb from Whicham to Black Combe's 600 metre top, with sea views out to the Isle of Man.

A flat, easy mile of the Hadrian's Wall Path takes dogs on a lead along the Solway shore, from Bowness-on-Solway to the old port at Port Carlisle.

A fit dog on a lead can join this remote Haweswater round over Branstree and Selside Pike, dropping past waterfalls to the reservoir shore.

Open fell with good off-lead freedom, but limited water on the ridge and sheep on the lower slopes keep the score from going higher.

A flat valley floor gives dogs easy walking on a lead into Cautley Spout, England's highest cascade waterfall, in the heart of the Howgills.

A dramatic fell circuit past a hidden tarn to a Coniston classic, a dog friendly mountain day for fit hill dogs.

A classic Lakeland mountain day over two proud summits above the Langdale valley, a proper dog friendly challenge.

A perfect Lakeland skyline with Wordsworth country at its feet, a classic dog friendly ridge loop for strong hill walkers.

Varied and scenic with good water access, but livestock near Rydal and busy paths in summer mean leads are needed regularly.

Pine forest on the lower slopes gives a dog room to roam before the short, steep pull to Gummer's How's 321 metre top, with all of Windermere below.

Shady Eggerslack Wood gives dogs room to roam on this climb from Grange-over-Sands to the 1846 Hospice on Hampsfell, with views to the Isle of Man.

Wainwright's favourite fell in miniature Lakeland perfection, a short but rewarding dog friendly climb above Buttermere.

A fit dog on a lead can tackle this serious Pennine Way climb from Dufton, ending at the crag-ringed rim of High Cup Nick, England's Grand Canyon.

Orchids and peregrine falcons are the reward for dogs on this short, easy climb on a lead to a limestone headland high over Morecambe Bay.

A dog gets a wooded riverside path and plenty to explore on this lead-only Eden Valley loop to the Bronze Age circle of Long Meg and Colonel Lacy's sandstone caves.

The classic rocky skyline above Langdale, a dog friendly fell classic with Stickle Tarn at its heart for well-trained hill dogs.

A remote, wild Cumbrian coast beach accessible via a railway level crossing, with year-round dog access, no restrictions and outstanding solitude on this overlooked stretch of the west Cumbrian coast.

Open grassland gives a dog on a lead room to range on this short limestone-edge loop above Kendal, up to the 1912 Mushroom shelter with fell views.

A wide Solway Coast beach backed by a large seafront green in the Victorian planned town of Silloth, with year-round dog access, views across to Scotland and a traditional seaside atmosphere.

This lead-only dog walk near Kirkby Stephen follows a flat old railway line to the 14 arches of Smardale Gill Viaduct, past butterflies and summer wildflowers.

A classic fell day with good off-lead potential on the upper mountain and a rewarding tarn stop on the descent; quarry terrain and sheep on lower approaches keep the score from going higher.

A quiet wooded reservoir walk beneath the Helvellyn range, a dog friendly day with easy terrain and huge skyline views.

Good open fell walking and off-lead potential on the upper sections, but sheep on the Troutbeck descent and steep rocky ground make this less straightforward than the rating might suggest.

Limestone pavement and orchid-rich turf keep a dog's nose busy on a lead across Whitbarrow Scar to the cairn on Lord's Seat, with Kent estuary views.

A proud, rocky Lakeland classic above Wast Water, best for dog friendly hikers whose dogs are steady on steep ground.

A long, wild Helvellyn day via the secret valley of Grisedale, a serious dog friendly mountain outing for fit hounds and owners.

A magnificent mountain day but the length, exposure and lack of water on the upper fell make this demanding for dogs as much as owners.

A big, quiet fell day along the Romans' ridge road, a serious dog friendly hill walk for owners with lead-trained mountain dogs.

A tough but rewarding ridge circuit high above a hidden Lakeland valley, a proper dog friendly challenge for fit hill dogs.

A sandy Solway coast beach at the historic Georgian harbour town of Maryport with year-round dog access, views across the Firth and good connections to the town's maritime heritage.

The mighty northern ridge of Blencathra from a quiet hamlet, a dog friendly fell classic for sure-footed hill dogs.

England's highest peak from the stark beauty of Wasdale, a serious mountain day for dog friendly adventurers with fit, lead-trained dogs.

A big open hill with enormous Lakeland views, a dog friendly classic for fit mountain dogs and their owners.

A sandy beach adjacent to Whitehaven's beautifully regenerated Georgian harbour, with year-round dog access and an interesting town rich in maritime history just steps from the sand.

A wide, open sandy beach at the Cumbrian port town of Workington with year-round dog access and the unassuming, authentic character of a working coastal community rather than a seaside resort.