Favourite Dog-Friendly Lake District Walks
Well behaved dogs always get a warm welcome from The Tranquil Otter. Our own dog Leah (AKA Queen of the Realm) loves the freedom she has to roam and run in the countryside.
Many of our guests who bring dogs, ask for recommendations for dog-friendly walks that allow them to get the full ‘lake district and Cumbria’ landscape experience. Many of the popular Northern Fells and Lake District Walks are accessible within an hour’s drive. Below we’ve listed some of our favourites.
Solway Villages
The Solway region is a special area of conservation and comprises coastal dunes, salt marshes, mires and delightful villages. This delightful circular walk takes you from the Lough at The Tranquil Otter (which is now a site of special scientific interest and home to birds and wildfowl) through a tour of the local villages. It’s perfect for you and your four-legged friends to get your bearings before venturing further afield to more adventurous and longer walks
Dodd Wood
Dodd Wood is a delightful place for dog-walking. It is situated on the East shore of Bassenthwaite Lake and has lots of trails and viewing points to take in some breathtaking scenery. It ‘s also a popular place for viewing Ospreys. The starting point for the Dodd Wood climb is from the carpark at the Old Sawmill Tearoom on the A591. The Forestry Commission site provides information about various trails including one to the Dodd Summit (about 450m from the carpark). Most of the track to the summit and around the Forestry Commission plantation is in good condition and well maintained. The final section of the path to the summit has some loose gravel. We’ve climbed this with our boys since they were 7 and 8, and they loved climbing the mountain.- Dodd Wood pay and display car park – grid ref. NY 235281
- Dodd Wood Summit and other trails can be found at: Dodd Wood Walking Leaflet
- Tearoom opening times and more can be found at theoldsawmill.co.uk/
Catbells
This is a very popular and picturesque Lake District Fell walk with exceptional views of Derwent Water. It does get quite busy, so unless you’re on the fells before 10am, expect to see many other people (and dogs) on the walk. The walk starts with a climb of about 450m, the path is steep, rocky and slippery in parts; a map, compass, walking boots and waterproof clothing are a must. There are many routes to Catbells, from the Hawse End Jetty, from Little Town or from Swinside. Roadside parking is available, but it can get quite busy during summer months.- Download a detailed version of the walk from walkingenglishman.com.
- Download a more challenging (8 miles) version of this walk in pdf format from a selection of Keswick Walks.
- For a shorter walk to enjoy – without stiles from lakedistrict.gov.uk/mileswithoutstiles.
Aira Force
The National Trust describes Aira Force as ‘a showcase for the power and beauty of nature.” We think it’s a pretty accurate description. It’s a magnificent waterfall and a network of trails that weave their way from Ullswater lakeshore to Gowbarrow summit. It’s truly breathtaking. It’s only about a 40-minute drive from the Tranquil Otter, but we only discovered it in 2015. Since then we have been back to Aira Force at least three times. It’s great with teenagers who make mincemeat of the stairs and are captivated by the waterfall.
- Free parking for National Trust members.
- Found near Watermillock, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0JS – postcode takes you to the general area. More information about Aira Force can be found here nationaltrust.org.uk/aira-force.
- Download an intermediate (4.5 miles) walk around Aira Force and Gowbarrow from the National Trust.
- OS Grid Ref: 90:NY401203
