Dog Friendly Walks in the Lake District
35 dog friendly walks in the Lake District, from gentle valley paths to proper fell days out. All hand-picked for dog owners who want wide open country and honest notes on what each walk is actually like with a dog in tow.

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

Ennerdale Water Circuit (Western Lakes)
Cumbria
Remote, spacious and with excellent lake access and off-lead potential throughout; the lack of facilities is the only meaningful limitation.

Latrigg Summit Walk from Keswick
Cumbria
The easiest Wainwright in the Lakes, with the best view over Derwent Water, made for dog friendly families and older dogs.

Ullswater Lakeshore: Howtown to Patterdale
Cumbria
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
Cumbria
A jewel-like tarn and a sharp little fell with the Langdale Pikes in every view, a dog friendly classic for all abilities.

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

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

Elterwater to Skelwith Bridge (Langdale Valley)
Cumbria
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
Cumbria
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)
Cumbria
Excellent lakeshore access, mostly off-lead walking and easy underfoot; a reliable and rewarding walk for dogs of all ages

Grizedale Forest Red Squirrel Trail
Cumbria
A playful forest trail with sculptures and red squirrels, a brilliantly dog friendly outing for families and easy dogs.

Loughrigg Fell (Ambleside)
Cumbria
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.

Lowther Castle and Askham Village Walk
Cumbria
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
Cumbria
A short, wooded hill walk with big Ullswater views from an ancient hill fort, ideal as a dog friendly half-day from Pooley Bridge.

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

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

Wansfell Pike via Stockghyll Force
Cumbria
A waterfall, a town favourite and a fine little summit above Windermere, a dog friendly half-day loop straight out of Ambleside.

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

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

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

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

Langdale Pikes from Old Dungeon Ghyll
Cumbria
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
Cumbria
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.

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

Wansfell Pike (Ambleside)
Cumbria
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.

Great Gable from Wasdale Head
Cumbria
A proud, rocky Lakeland classic above Wast Water, best for dog friendly hikers whose dogs are steady on steep ground.

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

Helvellyn via Thirlmere
Cumbria
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.

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

Scafell Pike via Wasdale Head
Cumbria
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
Cumbria
A big open hill with enormous Lakeland views, a dog friendly classic for fit mountain dogs and their owners.