Blog

Dog Friendly Walks in Cumbria

35 dog friendly walks across Cumbria, reviewed by dog owners. Find routes with off-lead potential, manageable terrain, and places where your dog is genuinely welcome.

35 locations
Latrigg Summit Walk from Keswick walk

Latrigg Summit Walk from Keswick

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 9.5/10

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

Aira Force and Ullswater Viewpoints walk

Aira Force and Ullswater Viewpoints

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 9/10

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

Ennerdale Water Circuit (Western Lakes) walk

Ennerdale Water Circuit (Western Lakes)

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 9/10

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

Ullswater Lakeshore: Howtown to Patterdale walk

Ullswater Lakeshore: Howtown to Patterdale

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 9/10

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

Blea Tarn and Side Pike Circuit walk

Blea Tarn and Side Pike Circuit

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 8.5/10

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

Claife Heights and Windermere Western Shore walk

Claife Heights and Windermere Western Shore

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 8.5/10

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

Grizedale Forest Red Squirrel Trail walk

Grizedale Forest Red Squirrel Trail

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 8.5/10

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

Lowther Castle and Askham Village Walk walk

Lowther Castle and Askham Village Walk

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 8.5/10

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

Pooley Bridge and Dunmallard Hill Walk walk

Pooley Bridge and Dunmallard Hill Walk

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 8.5/10

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

Wansfell Pike via Stockghyll Force walk

Wansfell Pike via Stockghyll Force

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 8.5/10

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

Buttermere Circuit walk

Buttermere Circuit

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 8/10

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

Elterwater to Skelwith Bridge (Langdale Valley) walk

Elterwater to Skelwith Bridge (Langdale Valley)

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 8/10

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.

Esthwaite Water Circular Walk walk

Esthwaite Water Circular Walk

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 8/10

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

Friar’s Crag and Derwentwater Lakeshore (Keswick) walk

Friar’s Crag and Derwentwater Lakeshore (Keswick)

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 8/10

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

Loughrigg Fell (Ambleside) walk

Loughrigg Fell (Ambleside)

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 8/10

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.

Stickle Tarn from Langdale walk

Stickle Tarn from Langdale

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 8/10

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

Tarn Hows walk

Tarn Hows

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 8/10

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

Fairfield Horseshoe from Rydal walk

Fairfield Horseshoe from Rydal

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 7.5/10

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

Haystacks from Gatesgarth walk

Haystacks from Gatesgarth

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 7.5/10

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

Thirlmere Shoreline and Helvellyn Viewpoint Walk walk

Thirlmere Shoreline and Helvellyn Viewpoint Walk

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 7.5/10

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

Cat Bells walk

Cat Bells

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 7/10

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.

Coniston Old Man via Goat's Water walk

Coniston Old Man via Goat's Water

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 7/10

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

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Dungeon Ghyll walk

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Dungeon Ghyll

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 7/10

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

Grasmere to Rydal Water walk

Grasmere to Rydal Water

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 7/10

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

Langdale Pikes from Old Dungeon Ghyll walk

Langdale Pikes from Old Dungeon Ghyll

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 7/10

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

The Old Man of Coniston walk

The Old Man of Coniston

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 7/10

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.

Wansfell Pike (Ambleside) walk

Wansfell Pike (Ambleside)

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 7/10

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.

Grisedale Tarn and Helvellyn from Patterdale walk

Grisedale Tarn and Helvellyn from Patterdale

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 6.5/10

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

High Street from Hartsop walk

High Street from Hartsop

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 6.5/10

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

Kentmere Horseshoe Circular Walk walk

Kentmere Horseshoe Circular Walk

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 6.5/10

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

Saddleback (Blencathra) from Scales walk

Saddleback (Blencathra) from Scales

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 6.5/10

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

Great Gable from Wasdale Head walk

Great Gable from Wasdale Head

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 6/10

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

Helvellyn via Thirlmere walk

Helvellyn via Thirlmere

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 6/10

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.

Scafell Pike via Wasdale Head walk

Scafell Pike via Wasdale Head

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 6/10

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

Skiddaw from Keswick walk

Skiddaw from Keswick

Cumbria
Dog Friendly: 6/10

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