Whilst the library of Fellside Lodge contains many excellent guidebooks detailing specific dog friendly walks, the owners wanted to pass on their experience of the best, most enjoyable walks they have enjoyed in recent years from when they first fell in love with the Lake District with their own beloved family pets.

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• High Dam, Finsthwaite. Although this is a fifteen-minute drive from Fellside Lodge, at the southern end of Lake Windermere, the calmness and tranquillity you will experience on this walk will make it a favourite of you and your dogs. There is some gradient climbing initially, rising from the car park to the tarns created by High and Low dams, but from here you will be rewarded with the most serene of woodland walks around the larger tarn - adventurous swimmer dogs will love it too! We have never met any grazing livestock on this walk so have always managed to go off-lead here.

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• School Knott, Bowness. A stone’s throw from Fellside Lodge, park on the B5284 near Windermere Golf Club, this is a popular walk, and you will be amongst livestock part of the way so dogs need to be on lead, but the scenery and views are breath-taking, including a ‘secret’ tarn, and if you make it to the summit, you will be rewarded with panoramic views over Windermere town and lake which are unparalleled.

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• Grizedale Forest, On the Hawkshead side of the Windermere Ferry (itself only a short distance from Fellside Lodge), head for the Forestry Commission Grizedale visitor centre, where you will find several, livestock free, forest walks to suit all abilities. Best combined with a visit to lovely Hawkshead for a some revitalising refreshments on the way back to the Ferry.

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• Cumbria's Beaches Cumbria has many dog friendly beaches that are fantastic for a day out and for a good leg stretch for your dogs.   The link to the dog friendly beach guide is HERE and tide times are HERE

 

Details of all these walks, as well as many, many more can be found in the various guidebooks at Fellside Lodge, we just wanted to share some favourite gems we have enjoyed. You can also take a look at the website Dog Friendly Lakes for more ideas.

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Whilst it is fantastic to offer our dogs the freedom of a nice Lakeland off-lead walk, livestock worrying is a real problem and illegal under UK Law. Please always keep your dog(s) on a lead and under close control around livestock.  You can find out more HERE

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And...after lots of walking perhaps your four legged friend(s) deserve a professional pamper. We highly recommend Wellness Dog Grooming in Ambleside

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