The Wildpack Collective

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.

35 locations
Walk
Aira Force and Ullswater Viewpoints

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.

View Listing3.1 mi · 2 hr · Easy
Walk
Ennerdale Water Circuit (Western Lakes)

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.

View Listing7.1 mi · 3 hr 30 min · Moderate
Walk
Latrigg Summit Walk from Keswick

Latrigg Summit Walk from Keswick

Cumbria

Dog Friendly:9/10

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

View Listing2.5 mi · 1 hr 15 min · Easy
Walk
Ullswater Lakeshore: Howtown to Patterdale

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.

View Listing6.8 mi · 4 hr · Moderate
Walk
Blea Tarn and Side Pike Circuit

Blea Tarn and Side Pike Circuit

Cumbria

Dog Friendly:8/10

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

View Listing3.4 mi · 2 hr 30 min · Moderate
Walk
Buttermere Circuit

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.

View Listing4.5 mi · 2 hr · Easy
Walk
Claife Heights and Windermere Western Shore

Claife Heights and Windermere Western Shore

Cumbria

Dog Friendly:8/10

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

View Listing5.3 mi · 3 hr · Moderate
Walk
Elterwater to Skelwith Bridge (Langdale Valley)

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.

View Listing3.1 mi · 1 hr 15 min · Easy
Walk
Esthwaite Water Circular 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.

View Listing5.6 mi · 3 hr · Easy
Walk
Friar’s Crag and Derwentwater Lakeshore (Keswick)

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

View Listing2.8 mi · 1 hr 45 min · Easy
Walk
Grizedale Forest Red Squirrel Trail

Grizedale Forest Red Squirrel Trail

Cumbria

Dog Friendly:8/10

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

View Listing2.2 mi · 1 hr 15 min · Easy
Walk
Loughrigg Fell (Ambleside)

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.

View Listing6.5 mi · 3 hr · Moderate
Walk
Lowther Castle and Askham Village Walk

Lowther Castle and Askham Village Walk

Cumbria

Dog Friendly:8/10

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

View Listing3.7 mi · 2 hr · Easy
Walk
Pooley Bridge and Dunmallard Hill Walk

Pooley Bridge and Dunmallard Hill Walk

Cumbria

Dog Friendly:8/10

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

View Listing2.8 mi · 1 hr 30 min · Easy
Walk
Stickle Tarn from Langdale

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.

View Listing2.5 mi · 2 hr 30 min · Moderate
Walk
Tarn Hows

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.

View Listing2.0 mi · 1 hr · Easy
Walk
Wansfell Pike via Stockghyll Force

Wansfell Pike via Stockghyll Force

Cumbria

Dog Friendly:8/10

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

View Listing5.6 mi · 4 hr · Moderate
Walk
Cat Bells

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.

View Listing3.5 mi · 2 hr · Moderate
Walk
Coniston Old Man via Goat's Water

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.

View Listing5.9 mi · 5 hr 30 min · Hard
Walk
Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Dungeon Ghyll

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.

View Listing9.3 mi · 7 hr · Challenging
Walk
Fairfield Horseshoe from Rydal

Fairfield Horseshoe from Rydal

Cumbria

Dog Friendly:7/10

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

View Listing9.9 mi · 6 hr 30 min · Hard
Walk
Grasmere to Rydal Water

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.

View Listing5.4 mi · 2 hr 30 min · Moderate
Walk
Haystacks from Gatesgarth

Haystacks from Gatesgarth

Cumbria

Dog Friendly:7/10

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

View Listing4.7 mi · 4 hr 30 min · Hard
Walk
Langdale Pikes from Old Dungeon Ghyll

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.

View Listing6.5 mi · 5 hr 30 min · Hard
Walk
The Old Man of Coniston

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.

View Listing7.0 mi · 4 hr · Moderate
Walk
Thirlmere Shoreline and Helvellyn Viewpoint Walk

Thirlmere Shoreline and Helvellyn Viewpoint Walk

Cumbria

Dog Friendly:7/10

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

View Listing7.5 mi · 3 hr 30 min · Moderate
Walk
Wansfell Pike (Ambleside)

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.

View Listing6.2 mi · 3 hr · Moderate
Walk
Great Gable from Wasdale Head

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.

View Listing4.3 mi · 5 hr · Challenging
Walk
Grisedale Tarn and Helvellyn from Patterdale

Grisedale Tarn and Helvellyn from Patterdale

Cumbria

Dog Friendly:6/10

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

View Listing9.9 mi · 7 hr 30 min · Challenging
Walk
Helvellyn via Thirlmere

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.

View Listing7.0 mi · 4 hr 30 min · Hard
Walk
High Street from Hartsop

High Street from Hartsop

Cumbria

Dog Friendly:6/10

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

View Listing8.4 mi · 6 hr · Hard
Walk
Kentmere Horseshoe Circular Walk

Kentmere Horseshoe Circular Walk

Cumbria

Dog Friendly:6/10

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

View Listing12.4 mi · 7 hr 30 min · Challenging
Walk
Saddleback (Blencathra) from Scales

Saddleback (Blencathra) from Scales

Cumbria

Dog Friendly:6/10

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

View Listing6.2 mi · 5 hr · Hard
Walk
Scafell Pike via Wasdale Head

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.

View Listing5.9 mi · 6 hr · Challenging
Walk
Skiddaw from Keswick

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.

View Listing6.5 mi · 5 hr 30 min · Hard