Dog-friendly things to do in Northumberland

The 73 miles of Hadrian’s Wall are a sight to behold, and the path is a scenic marvel. With remains of forts, and some extraordinary views from the top of the wall, it’s a wonderful place to visit. Dogs can be walked on an extended lead all along the path. 

Head to the Housesteads Roman Fort near Bardon Mill, where there’s a visitor centre and car park, and follow the path up to Housesteads, past the National Trust owned farm of the same name. You can walk for miles in either direction and try to imagine yourself as a Roman legionnaire looking out for invading Picts.

If there’s one thing dogs love it’s a harbour, with its fishy smells, seaweed, and old fishing boats. Take a stroll up the beachfront, then along the harbour wall, to admire the lighthouse at its far end. 

The town is very dog-friendly, with dogs allowed on the sand all-year-round and plenty of pooch-friendly eateries.

One of the prettiest sections of the Northumberland east coast is this stretch between the quaint village of Craster and the impressive ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. The walk there and back is a little under three miles and you’ll see impressive vistas of the castle on its rocky promontory as you approach from the south. 

Dogs are welcome to join their humans in an exploration of the 14th-century castle ruins but should be kept on the lead. If you’d like to walk a little further, the coastal path runs south past hidden coves and beaches.

If you’d like to visit a castle that’s in better shape than a picturesque ruin, Bamburgh is one of England’s most spectacular, and dogs are welcomed (on the lead). There have been ancient dwellings at Bamburgh for millennia, with the first mention of a castle in 547AD.  

Once the seat of Norman kings, the Castle stands above sand dunes and a mile-long sandy beach that’s perfect for exercising your dog. The beach is popular with wild swimmers too, so pack your swimwear if you’re feeling brave.

With 27 miles of shoreline, and 250 square miles of picturesque forest, Kielder Forest Park and Kielder Water are a must-see and dogs can roam free throughout. 

An accessible highlight is the five mile circular trail from the Leaplish Waterside Centre, which includes the Bull Crag Peninsula, and sculptural features like Freya’s Cabin and the Kielder Keepsake. Lakeside views are spectacular throughout this route, and you may spot falcons or ospreys as there’s a Bird of Prey Centre by the lake. 

Leaplish also has toilet facilities and the Forest Bar and Kitchen for refreshments.

The approach to Holy Island, via a causeway at low tide, adds to the mystique of this enchanted place, one of the earliest seats of British Christianity, with a monastery established as early as 635AD.   

You’ll be charmed by the impressive sight of 16th-century Lindisfarne Castle, which stands on a volcanic plug looking out over the North Sea. There are plenty of coastal trails and dogs are welcome, including within the castle grounds. 

Make time to see the lime kilns, the Gertrude Jekyll Garden, and the eastern shore, which offers some of the best photo opportunities. 

Situated on the border of County Durham and Northumberland, Blanchland is a perfectly preserved English village with stone houses, rolling hills, waterfalls, and a 12th-century Abbey. 

There are riverside and forest walks, tearooms, and pubs, many of them with outside tables and lawns perfect for summery days and lazy dogs. The village has been used as a location for numerous productions including the film Jude and the detective series Vera. 

It’s a longish drive, but not far from Hadrian’s Wall if you’re planning a visit.

Deep in the Northumberland National Park, this riverside walk is an easy wander alongside the gently rippling River Coquet and through the village of Rothbury.  

If you tire of the village and riverside trails, then head east to neighbouring Cragside, where you can visit the home and gardens of an eccentric Victorian inventor, Lord Armstrong. There’s an arboretum and a rock garden, through which the river cascades. 

The house is not accessible to dogs, but the sumptuous and surprising gardens are. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in Rothbury, many with pet-friendly provision.