Northumberland With a Dog: Beaches, Castles, Walks and Pubs
Nearly all of it, once you know the two summer beach bans, the lead rules for lambs and nesting birds, and which castles stop the dog at the gate.
The short answer
Yes. Northumberland is one of the easier counties to visit with a dog: only parts of Blyth and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea beaches ban dogs (1 May to 30 September), and Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, Warkworth and Housesteads let dogs in on leads, as do the grounds at Cragside, Wallington and Lindisfarne Castle. The catches are leads on Open Access land from 1 March to 31 July, short leads near nesting terns and on Holy Island, no dogs ashore on the Farne Islands and none at Alnwick Castle.
Checked 29 September 2026. Rules, dates and prices change, so the council's, the castle's or the pub's own page is the one to trust.
Northumberland, England is one of the easier places in the country to take a dog, and the short answer to "is Northumberland dog friendly" is yes, with a handful of catches worth knowing before you load the boot. Most dog pages for the county stop at "follow local signage", which is true and no use at all when you're sat in a car park in Beadnell wondering if the terns are in. So this names the beaches, the dates, the castles that say no and the pubs that say yes on their own websites.
Is Northumberland dog friendly? The short answer
- Beaches: yes, all year, apart from parts of Blyth and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea from 1 May to 30 September.
- Castles: Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, Warkworth and Housesteads take dogs on leads, Lindisfarne Castle in the grounds only. Alnwick Castle and Chillingham say no.
- Gardens: Cragside and Wallington outdoors, yes. The Alnwick Garden, Thursdays and Sundays only, until 15 November 2026.
- Islands: Holy Island on a short lead. The Farne Islands, no, not even assistance dogs.
- Hills: yes, but on a lead on Open Access land from 1 March to 31 July, and around livestock always.
Add to the no pile the National Park's own ranger-led walks (every one in our events listings this winter says no dogs) and the Wildlife Trust's Hauxley reserve, which is assistance dogs only.
Which Northumberland beaches have dog bans?
Two, and only partly. Northumberland County Council's dog control order bans dogs from part of the beach at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea (from the breakwater beside Church Point to the access from the promenade beside Sidney Crescent) and part of the beach at Blyth (from the access at Beachway to the access at the southern end of the Links Road car park) from 1 May to 30 September every year. It's been running since 2011, and breaking it gets you an on-the-spot £100 fixed penalty. At Newbiggin the southern end of the bay and the whole promenade stay open to dogs all summer.
The same order covers the whole county. Pick it up. Keep dogs out of enclosed children's play areas. If a council officer asks, the dog goes on a lead no longer than 1.5 metres. And the newest rule, which will mostly bother professional walkers with a van full of spaniels: no more than six dogs per person.
Everywhere else there's no council ban, just local requests:
- Bamburgh: dogs welcome all year, no seasonal restrictions, no lifeguards. Toilets at the Links car park and on Church Street.
- Beadnell Bay: dogs all year, but short leads at and near the Long Nanny tern colony from May to July.
- Alnmouth: no dog restrictions and no lifeguards. The estuary mouth is dangerous on a dropping tide, so keep the dog out of the river channel.
- Craster: no restrictions, but it's a very small harbour beach with rock and shingle either side. Dogs come here for the walk.
- Druridge Bay: dog friendly all year, and long enough to flatten a collie. Embleton Bay allows dogs too.
Birds, seals and islands: where the rules get stricter
The Long Nanny, the burn at the southern end of Beadnell Bay (about a mile's walk from Beadnell or High Newton), is where Arctic and little terns nest on open sand. The National Trust asks for dogs on short leads at and near it from May to July, and the rangers rope the colony off. Stay outside the ropes. A terrier can undo a season's nesting in about four seconds.
Holy Island and the sands around it are Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. The byelaws already call for dogs on a short lead, and in 2024 Natural England consulted on a two-metre lead and no more than two dogs each at Ross Sands, Goswick Sands and Budle Bay, for the little terns and ringed plovers. I couldn't confirm that change is in force, so work to the stricter version and read the sign where you go in. Pirri-pirri bur, an invasive dune plant, clings to fur, so check the dog before it gets back in the car. And the causeway floods twice a day: check the council's safe crossing times before you drive over, every single time.
The Farne Islands are the one flat no. The National Trust allows no dogs ashore, assistance dogs included, though some boats let dogs stay on board.
Grey seal pups are born on the Farnes in autumn, and seals haul out on mainland beaches too. Watch from clifftops or dunes with dogs on leads and roughly 100 metres back, and never walk onto a beach with seals on it. If one looks injured, keep people and dogs away and ring British Divers Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765546.
Dog-friendly castles and attractions in Northumberland
Ruins and grounds are easy, state rooms are not, so with two adults you take it in turns.
Bamburgh Castle
Well behaved dogs are welcome in the grounds, the Victorian Stables and the Tack Room Takeaway on a short lead (lock an extendable one short, the castle asks). The State Rooms, the Clock Tower Cafe and the Aviation Museum are assistance dogs only, as are evening events unless they say otherwise.
So the dog gets the ramparts and the view out to the Farnes, then it's down to the beach, which has no seasonal ban at all.
- Price
- Until 8 Nov 2026: adult £19.95, child (5 to 16) £10, family £58.50. From 14 Nov: £21, £10.50, £61.50
- Parking
- Castle car park or Glebe car park in the village, £6 a day, card or contactless only
- Buggy access
- Free shuttle buggy up the hill from the castle car park; no prams in the State Rooms
- Dogs
- Grounds, stables and takeaway on a short lead
- Check first
- Closed 9 to 13 Nov 2026 for the Christmas install; weekends only 4 Jan to 12 Feb 2027
Dunstanburgh Castle
The walk is the point. It's 1.3 miles from Craster along the coast, across working farmland, so expect livestock and keep the lead on. English Heritage welcomes dogs on leads inside the ruin too, which makes this the best castle-plus-walk for a dog in the county, and the one I'd do first. It's a grass path, so after rain it's mud, and the Jolly Fisherman is back in Craster for afterwards.
- Price
- Varies by date on English Heritage's booking page; members free
- Parking
- Council car park in Craster, 60 spaces, coin machines, 1.3 miles from the castle
- Toilets
- Two unisex toilets at the castle; more at the Craster car park
- Check first
- Daily 10am to 5pm at the time of writing; winter days not yet published
Warkworth Castle
Dogs on leads are welcome at the castle, a big cross-shaped keep over the village and the River Coquet. The Hermitage, a chapel cut into the riverbank upstream, is no dogs according to our castles guide, so somebody walks the dog by the river while the others go.
- Price
- Varies by date on English Heritage's booking page; 15% off if you book ahead
- Parking
- About 48 spaces outside; free for English Heritage members with a car sticker, paid for everyone else
- Toilets
- Yes, including an accessible toilet
- Check first
- Hermitage days (Sundays and Mondays at the time of writing) and winter opening
Lindisfarne Castle
No dogs inside the castle (assistance dogs only), but the National Trust welcomes them in the grounds on short leads, with water bowls by the admissions point, sometimes biscuits, and two bins. There are sheep with lambs and ground-nesting birds across the site, and a fenced area by the lime kilns where ringed plovers nest, so give it plenty of room. The Trust's village shop sells doggy essentials if you've forgotten the bags.
- Price
- Castle: adult £13 (£14.30 with Gift Aid), child £6.50 (£7.20); NT members free
- Parking
- Main island car park, about a mile's walk; drop-off at the castle gate
- Toilets
- One toilet at the castle
- Check first
- The council's safe crossing times, and castle hours, which follow the tides
Housesteads Roman Fort
Yes, Housesteads is dog friendly: English Heritage welcomes dogs on the fort on a short lead. The fort is up the hill from the visitor centre with the Wall running off either side, so the visit and the walk are the same thing. It's sheep country, so the short lead isn't optional. Vindolanda, down the road, doesn't take dogs, so if you're doing both, one of you waits in the car park with a flask.
- Price
- See English Heritage's prices page; members free
- Parking
- National Park car park: £5 for up to 3 hours, then £2 an hour, £10 max; pay on exit or online within 48 hours
- Toilets
- At the visitor centre, including accessible toilets and baby changing
- Check first
- Winter opening days on English Heritage's site
Cragside
Dogs are allowed in all the outdoor spaces, on leads at all times, and they're welcome in the shop, with a dog seating area in the tea room. Only assistance dogs go in the house. Seven car parks round the estate mean you can drive a bit and walk a bit. It isn't cheap, though, so save it for a dry day.
- Price
- Until 1 Nov 2026: adult £27 (£29.70 with Gift Aid), child £13.50, family £67.50; NT members free
- Parking
- Free once you've paid admission; seven car parks
- Toilets
- Visitor centre, House archway and Crozier car park
- Check first
- Opening after 1 November
Wallington
The National Trust gives Wallington two pawprints: dogs can go on miles of parkland and woodland trails and into the walled garden. The volunteers' guided walks take dogs on leads too, including the easy 2.6 mile River Walk on 20 October and 2 December 2026, which crosses the Wansbeck by stepping stones or a bridge. It's also a red squirrel spot, which is a mixed blessing if your dog has views on squirrels.
- Price
- Until 1 Nov 2026: adult £22, child £11, family £55 (without Gift Aid); NT members free
- Parking
- Included in the ticket; free for members
- Toilets
- Yes, on site
- Check first
- Opening after 1 November, and where dogs can sit in the cafe
The Alnwick Garden (Dog Days)
Dogs on Thursdays and Sundays only, 10am to 4pm, until 15 November 2026; from 16 November, no dogs at all. Short, non-extendable leads, two dogs per person at most, and not in the Poison Garden, Lilidorei or most indoor areas (the ticket office, The Bakery, the gift shop and the Potting Shed are fine). Winter Lights is assistance dogs only, and Alnwick Castle next door takes no dogs, so this is the dog's one shot at Alnwick's big two.
- Price
- Garden admission as normal; the Dog Days page doesn't mention a dog charge
- Parking
- Pay car park shared with Alnwick Castle, cards accepted
- Toilets
- Not listed on the Dog Days page; ask at the ticket office
- Check first
- Thursdays and Sundays only, and no dogs from 16 Nov 2026
Serenity Farne Islands sail-around
Serenity says well behaved dogs are welcome on its grey seal and seabird cruise, which takes about an hour and a half and doesn't land, so the islands' no-dogs rule doesn't come into it. It sails from Seahouses harbour all year except Christmas Day, weather permitting. Be there 30 minutes early for your boarding pass.
- Price
- Adult £22, child (15 and under) £17, under 5s free
- Parking
- Council Station Yard car park in Seahouses: 1 hour free, 2 hours £5.50, 3 hours £7, all day £10.50
- Toilets
- None listed for the boat, so go before you board
- Check first
- Sailings depend on the weather; times vary by season
Heatherslaw Light Railway
Dogs ride free on this narrow gauge railway along the River Till to Etal, and the autumn trains run daily until 1 November 2026 (from Heatherslaw at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm). Each train waits at Etal long enough to walk up to the castle, which takes dogs on leads. Half term week, 26 October to 1 November, is also the Famous Scarycrow Trail round Ford, Etal and Heatherslaw: free, mostly walkable and dogs welcome.
- Price
- Return: adult £12.50, child (2 to 16) £6, over 60s £12, family of four £34; dogs and under 2s free
- Parking
- Not stated on the railway's page; check
- Toilets
- Not stated on the railway's page; check
- Check first
- Last trains of 2026 on 1 November
Walks with sheep, cattle and nesting birds
This is the bit that matters most, because a lot of Northumberland is working farmland and moor. The Countryside Code says that between 1 March and 31 July your dog must be on a lead on Open Access land, even with no livestock on it, and that on Open Access land and at the coast it must be on a lead around livestock. It also says, plainly, that a farmer can shoot a dog that is attacking or chasing livestock.
Northumberland National Park says lambing runs from as early as the end of February in the south of the Park to the end of May in the north, so the Cheviots are last. Its Take the Lead campaign asks for leads right through spring, for the lambs and for ground-nesting curlew, oystercatcher and lapwing. If cattle come at you, the Code is blunt: let the dog off the lead and don't get hurt protecting it. The dog will outrun them. You won't.
College Valley
A quiet valley in the northern Cheviots and a working sheep estate, which says uncontrolled dogs are one of the biggest threats to its sheep, lambs and ground-nesting birds, and asks you to keep your dog under control at all times. In practice, that's a lead. Park free at Hethpool; you can't drive further up without a permit.
- Price
- Free
- Parking
- Free car park at Hethpool; no vehicles beyond without a permit
- Toilets
- None listed on the estate's visitor page
- Check first
- Lambing in the northern Cheviots runs to the end of May
Easier options: Druridge Bay Country Park for the long beach (first hour free, £3 up to two hours, £5 over), Allen Banks near Bardon Mill with dogs on leads (£3 for four hours, £5 all day, National Trust members free), and Simonside above Rothbury, where the open moor means leads from 1 March to 31 July.
Dog-friendly pubs and cafes (that say so themselves)
Plenty of places up here are dog friendly in practice. These three say so on their own websites, which is the test I'd use, because a Facebook post from 2019 is not binding.
The Ship Inn
The Ship brews its own beer and has a dog policy written by people who own three large dogs and have clearly mopped up after a lot of Labradors. Dogs are welcome on a short lead, tucked under the table and off the furniture, and please don't bring your own water bowls or, their words, a "wet & smelly dog". Space is tight at evening service, when they'd rather you left the dog behind.
- Price
- Menu on the pub's website
- Parking
- Council pay and display at Low Newton: 1 hour £3.30, 2 hours £5.50, all day £9.50
- Toilets
- For customers
- Check first
- Opening and food times on the website, or ring 01665 576262 (NE66 3EL)
The Jolly Fisherman
Dogs are welcome in the bar only, not the restaurant, so the crab soup with a dog under the table means a bar seat. Food runs 11am to 3pm and 5pm to 8.30pm Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 5pm on Sunday, and the pub recommends booking, with a 15 minute grace period before your table goes.
- Price
- Menu on the pub's website
- Parking
- Council car park in Craster, 60 spaces, coin machines
- Toilets
- Public toilets at the Craster car park
- Check first
- Dogs in the bar only
The Craster Arms
The most relaxed rules of the three: dogs welcome in the bar, the restaurant and outside at all service times, on a lead, kept with you and off the furniture. The kitchen runs noon to 8.15pm Sunday to Wednesday and to 8.45pm Thursday to Saturday.
- Price
- Menu on the pub's website
- Parking
- Council car park at Beadnell: 1 hour free, 3 hours £7, all day £9.50
- Toilets
- For customers
- Check first
- Book online or on 01665 720272 (NE67 5AX)
For a coffee rather than a pint, Cragside's tea room has a dog seating area and Bamburgh Castle's Tack Room Takeaway lets dogs in.
Dog-friendly events this autumn and winter
The Alnwick Pumpkin Patch at Broxfield Farm says dogs are welcome, on the weekends of 10 and 11, 17 and 18, and 24 and 25 October. Next year, the Northumberland County Show at Bywell on 29 May 2027 welcomes well behaved dogs on short leads.
Brocksbushes Pumpkin Experience
Brocksbushes near Corbridge sets aside dog-friendly sessions on 10 and 11 October and from 21 to 28 October 2026. Book online first. It's the full production (prize hunt, carving tent, fairground rides), so bring a dog that's relaxed about crowds and bairns waving sticks.
- Price
- £3.50 per person aged 3 and over, or £12 for a family of up to 5
- Parking
- Not stated in the listing; check the farm's page
- Toilets
- Not stated in the listing; check the farm's page
- Check first
- Which sessions are dog friendly when you book
Ford and Etal Christmas Market
More than 70 stalls across Ford, Etal, Heatherslaw and Ford Castle on 28 and 29 November 2026, 10am to 4pm, with vintage buses between the villages. Dogs on leads are welcome, which for a Christmas market is a canny bonus.
- Price
- Admission tickets from the estate information points; details due nearer the date
- Parking
- Not published yet; check the estate's page
- Toilets
- Not published yet; check the estate's page
- Check first
- Ticket details nearer the date
Vets, ticks and the sea
Save this number before you need it: 01670 505 321, the Alnorthumbria Veterinary Centre at Fairmoor, Morpeth (NE61 3JN). It's a CVS 24/7 centre with its own emergency team overnight, at weekends and on bank holidays, and it takes the out-of-hours cases for the group's Alnwick practice (01665 510 999). Morpeth is a long way from Kielder or Berwick at 2am, so if you're staying at either end of the county, find the nearest practice on the RCVS Find a Vet search and put its number in your phone.
Ticks live in woods and long grass, the NHS says, which covers a fair chunk of the county. Check the dog, and the children, after hill and woodland walks. Remove a tick with fine-tipped tweezers or a tick tool, gripping close to the skin and pulling slowly upwards without squeezing, and watch for a bullseye rash on the humans in the weeks after.
If the dog goes into the sea or gets stuck in mud, don't go in after it. The RNLI says to move somewhere it can reach you safely and call it, because it'll probably get out by itself, and if you're worried, ring 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. Keep it on a lead near cliff edges and fast-flowing water, the river mouth at Alnmouth included. There are no lifeguards at Bamburgh, Beadnell, Alnmouth, Craster or Druridge.
See what's on in The Northumbrian AlmanacGet the next edition free
Free, two short emails a week, and you choose which. Read the latest one first.
- Friday, 7am: the weather call, one proper day out and every family event that weekend, checked with the organiser.
- Sunday, 6pm: the grown-up edition, with a walk of the week and what's worth booking.
- Every week: Holy Island crossing times, new guides and what's on at half term.
No spam, no ads. Unsubscribe from any email with one click. Privacy
Questions people ask
Is Northumberland dog friendly?
Yes, mostly. Only parts of Blyth and Newbiggin beaches ban dogs (1 May to 30 September), and Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, Warkworth and Housesteads let dogs in on leads, while Alnwick Castle, Chillingham and the Farne Islands don't.
Are dogs allowed on Northumberland beaches?
Yes, on almost all of them all year. The council's dog control order bans dogs from parts of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Blyth beaches from 1 May to 30 September with a £100 fixed penalty, and dogs go on short leads near the Long Nanny tern colony from May to July.
Is Alnmouth beach dog friendly?
Yes, there are no dog restrictions at Alnmouth. There are no lifeguards, and the estuary mouth is dangerous on a dropping tide, so keep the dog out of the river channel.
Is Craster beach dog friendly?
Yes, with no restrictions, but it's a very small sandy beach in the harbour with rock and shingle either side. The 1.3 mile walk to Dunstanburgh Castle crosses working farmland, so keep the lead on for the livestock.
Is Beadnell Bay dog friendly?
Yes, all year, but the National Trust asks for dogs on short leads at and near the Long Nanny tern colony from May to July. There are toilets with showers at the beach.
Is Housesteads dog friendly?
Yes. English Heritage says dogs are welcome on the fort on a short lead, and the National Park car park costs £5 for up to three hours.
Is Bamburgh beach dog friendly?
Yes, dogs are welcome on Bamburgh beach all year with no seasonal restrictions. There are no lifeguards, and the toilets are at the Links car park and on Church Street.
Is Bamburgh Castle dog friendly?
Yes, in the grounds, the Victorian Stables and the Tack Room Takeaway, on a short lead. Only assistance dogs can go into the State Rooms, the Clock Tower Cafe and the Aviation Museum.
Sources and further reading
Facts checked against 44 pages on Tuesday 29 September 2026. Opening times and prices change, so confirm with the venue.
Show the sources
- Northumberland Gazette: partial dog ban returns to Newbiggin and Blyth beaches (27 April 2026)
- Newbiggin by the Sea Town Council: partial seasonal dog ban on Newbiggin Bay
- Ashington Town Council papers: Northumberland County Council dog control PSPO report
- Northumberland County Council: dog walkers limited to six dogs at a time
- The Beach Guide: Bamburgh
- The Beach Guide: Beadnell Bay
- The Beach Guide: Alnmouth
- The Beach Guide: Craster
- The Beach Guide: Druridge Bay
- The Beach Guide: Embleton Bay
- National Trust: Embleton and Newton Links (Long Nanny)
- Northumberland Gazette: dog walking rule changes proposed at Lindisfarne NNR (7 August 2024)
- Natural England: Northumberland's National Nature Reserves
- National Trust: Farne Islands
- Bamburgh Castle: visit us
- English Heritage: Dunstanburgh Castle
- English Heritage: Dunstanburgh Castle facilities
- English Heritage: Warkworth Castle facilities
- National Trust: visiting Lindisfarne with your dog
- National Trust: Lindisfarne Castle
- English Heritage: Housesteads Roman Fort facilities
- National Trust: Cragside
- National Trust: Wallington
- The Alnwick Garden: Dog Days
- Serenity Farne Island Tours: sail-around
- Heatherslaw Light Railway
- GOV.UK: the Countryside Code
- Northumberland National Park: visitors urged to keep dogs on leads
- Northumberland National Park: Take the Lead
- College Valley: visiting the valley
- The Ship Inn, Low Newton: dogs
- The Jolly Fisherman, Craster
- North Coast Collective: dog friendly policy (Craster Arms)
- The Craster Arms, Beadnell
- Brocksbushes: pumpkins
- Ford and Etal: Christmas Market 2026
- Visit Northumberland: Alnwick Pumpkin Patch
- Northumberland County Show: visitors
- National Trust: Wallington River Walk
- CVS: Alnorthumbria Veterinary Centre, Morpeth
- CVS: Alnorthumbria Veterinary Centre, Alnwick
- RCVS: find a vet
- NHS: Lyme disease and tick bites
- RNLI: dog walking safety advice
