Collection · 26 walks
Dog-friendly walks
Three easy or moderate walks with the fewest gates
- Catbells: the short way upNo stiles mapped; 1 gate on the line5.67 km · ~1¾–2½ h
- Catbells, Maiden Moor & High SpyNo stiles mapped; 1 gate on the line12.59 km · ~3½–5 h
- Blencathra via Blease FellNo stiles mapped; 1 gate on the line11.88 km · ~3½–5 h
How this list is chosen. A walk is on this list when the Stile & Gate Census maps no stile on its line and its grading suits a dog, as the introduction says. These three are chosen from the Easy and Moderate effort walks and have the fewest gates of any kind mapped on the line, the shorter day first when two tie. Mapped barriers can be incomplete, and no stiles does not mean off the lead. How we check our routes.
Every walk on this list has had its stiles and gates checked on the map, gate by gate. We mapped the stiles, gates and barriers along each of our routes (the Stile & Gate Census) and these are the ones where nothing on the mapped route blocks a dog's way round — no stiles to lift a wet spaniel over, no squeeze gaps — and the grading suits a dog too: no more than a few rocky steps where you need your hands (nothing we grade an easy or a graded scramble), and exposure graded Easy or Moderate. That exposure grade has to be ours: set on the ground, or an editorial grade from the route’s documented character. A grade that is only an estimate from map data does not count, however low it is, so a route graded that way is not on this list until we have assessed it. A grade is not the ground: a route can still have a rocky step or two, so read its guide. Two honest caveats: mapped barriers can be incomplete, so treat a surprise stile as possible rather than impossible; and no stiles doesn't mean off-lead — keep dogs on a short lead around livestock (sheep graze almost every Lakeland fell, commonly with lambs in spring) and under close control everywhere else (the lead rules, and the law behind them). Water, shade and paw-friendly going vary by route: each guide has the detail. Routes that didn't pass aren't necessarily no-go — they just have barriers a big or less-portable dog may struggle with; they're simply not listed here rather than dressed up as fine.
26
walks
2.4–20.8 km
distance range
from 35 min
shortest walk
26
dog-friendly
The count is of the list on this page. Distances are measured from each route’s GPX track. Times are worked from distance and climb by Naismith’s rule. A walk counts as dog-friendly only where both the stiles on its line and its grades pass for a dog. How we check →
Effort
Length
Walked by Lee
All 26 walks
Each filter reads the walk’s own card: effort is its band, the size of the day from the distance and the climb; length is its distance in the route pages’ length grades; walked is its tag. One answer to each question.
Effort is the size of the day, from the distance and the climb; each route’s own page grades the steepness, navigation, exposure and ground underfoot, and names the hardest.
- Blea Tarn (Little Langdale)No stiles mapped; 5 gates on the line2.66 km~34 m climb~½–1 hEasy effort Easy: distance, steepness, terrain, navigation and exposureWalked May 2024Park: Blea Tarn (NT, paid) · Bus: 516, 2.4 km walk from Old Dungeon Ghyll HotelA short, lovely loop around little Blea Tarn, with the classic view of the Langdale Pikes mirrored in the water — one of the most photographed scenes in the Lakes for very little effort.
Too windy for the topsBinsey WalkNo stiles mapped; 3 gates on the line2.35 km~175 m climb~¾–1¼ hEasy effort Moderate: steepnessWalked July 2024Out and back · Park: Roadside parking for Binsey (free) · Bus: 554, 3.1 km walk from Bewaldeth, on road endThe northern outlier, and the biggest view-per-minute in the Lake District. Binsey stands alone above the Solway plain with nothing between it and Scotland — about ¾–1¼ hours up and back on a grassy path, and you can see the whole Skiddaw massif on one side and the Galloway hills on the other. A first fell, an evening fell.- Elterwater riverside loopNo stiles mapped; 6 gates on the line4.25 km~91 m climb~1–1½ hEasy effort Moderate: terrainPlannedPark: Elterwater (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the startA short loop from Elterwater village, partly beside Great Langdale Beck — easy, pretty and quick, with the Langdale Pikes ahead. A gentle leg-stretch or a lazy family afternoon.
- DryHigh RiggNo stiles mapped; 4 gates on the line3.62 km~221 m climb~1–1½ hEasy effort Moderate: steepnessWalked April 2026Out and back · Park: St John's in the Vale verge, High Rigg (free) · Bus: 509, 2.3 km walk from Threlkeld West End (near)A round of 1–1½ hours over Naddle Fell, and a great deal of view for 221 m of climbing — with one steep pull near the top and a stretch of pathless ground to keep it honest.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 21%. Navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
- The Sun Pub Walk (Coniston)No stiles mapped; 12 gates and 6 kissing gates on the line6.42 km~202 m climb~1½–2¼ hEasy effort Moderate: terrainPlannedPark: Coniston, Ruskin Avenue (paid) · Bus: 505 at the startA short circuit from the door of The Sun in Coniston: 6.4 km with around 200 m of climbing, on the east side of the village. Our description of the way round is being rewritten to match the track; until then, follow the map and the GPX.
Too windy for the topsLing Fell & Sale FellNo stiles mapped; 2 gates on the line4.98 km~422 m climb~1½–2½ hEasy effort Hard: steepnessWalked July 2024Park: unnamed layby north-east of Ling Fell · Bus: X5, 2.7 km walk from Embleton Close Barn (near)Two small grassy tops near Wythop — 5 km and 422 m, and the only route in this group rated easy on every axis but steepness. A stage averages 16%. About 1½–2½ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 27%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
DryRaven Crag from ThirlmereNo stiles mapped; 10 gates on the line5.79 km~314 m climb~1½–2¼ hEasy effort Hard: steepnessWalked in partPark: Dam Triangle, Thirlmere (paid) · Bus: 555, 1.2 km walk from Stanah, at Dam road endThe short climb to the crag above Thirlmere: 5.8 km and 314 m, with a first stage averaging 20% and a steepest pull of about 25%. The path, the route-finding and the length are all easy; the gradient is the hard part. The top is a crag, so stay on the path at the viewpoint. About 1½–2¼ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 25%. Navigation: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; that stretch not walked. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 24 September 2026.
Too windy for the topsCatbells: the short way upNo stiles mapped; 1 gate on the line5.67 km~407 m climb~1¾–2½ hEasy effort Hard: steepnessWalked May 2026Park: Skelgill Bank, north car park · Bus: 77 at the startThe friendliest big view in the Lakes. Under 6 km from Hawes End to the shapely little summit above Derwentwater and back — short enough for an afternoon, steep enough to feel like a proper fell, and reachable without a car by launch across the lake or, in season, the bus from Keswick.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 31%.- Hawkshead into the woodsNo stiles mapped; 8 gates and 1 kissing gate on the line7.54 km~283 m climb~1¾–2¾ hEasy effort Moderate: steepness, terrain and navigationPlannedPark: Hawkshead Car & Coach Park (paid) · Bus: 505 at the startA woodland circuit from Beatrix Potter’s Hawkshead that climbs to the great cairn on Latterbarrow — a little fell with a big reward, looking clean down Windermere and across to the Coniston fells — then drops back through the trees. Dappled and dog-friendly, with a proper viewpoint in the middle.
Too windy for the topsStone Arthur from GrasmereNo stiles mapped; 3 gates and 2 kissing gates on the line6.82 km~528 m climb~2¼–3 hModerate effort Hard: steepnessWalked July 2023Out and back · Park: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startThe steep little top above Grasmere, out and back in 6.8 km with 528 m of climbing. Easy for length, navigation and exposure — it is the gradient that makes it, rated hard. About 2¼–3 hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 27%. Exposure and navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.- Watendlath & the packhorse bridgeNo stiles mapped; 11 gates and 2 kissing gates on the line10.33 km~298 m climb~2½–3½ hModerate effort Hard: steepnessWalked in partPark: Surprise View (NT) (paid) · Bus: 78 at the startA roughly 6.4-mile Borrowdale loop up to the hidden hamlet of Watendlath, its tarn and the much-photographed packhorse bridge, returning down the valley. A satisfying low-level half-day with one steep descent of about 33% over 250 m near the end.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest descent, about 33% over 250 m.
Summit likely clagged inLoughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg FellNo stiles mapped; 12 gates and 2 kissing gates on the line9.75 km~382 m climb~2½–3½ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Elterwater (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the startA big little walk: the classic loop taking in reed-fringed Loughrigg Tarn and the knobbly top of Loughrigg Fell, with one of the finest low-level views in the Lakes — Windermere, Grasmere and the Langdale Pikes all at once. Under 400 m of climb but one short, steep descent of about 46% over 250 m, endlessly varied, and grand for dogs.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest descent, about 46% over 250 m.
Too windy for the topsScafell Pike from Wasdale, by Lingmell ColNo stiles mapped; 2 gates and 2 kissing gates on the line8 km~915 m climb~3–4¼ hModerate effort Severe: steepness and navigationPlannedPark: Lake Head, Wasdale (NT, paid)The most-walked way up the highest mountain in England, and the shortest — 8 km and 915 m straight out of Wasdale Head. It is a hard, stony climb up Brown Tongue into Hollow Stones, then a boulder-strewn haul to the roof of the country. Do not mistake ‘popular’ for ‘easy’.Terrain and navigation: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; not walked yet.
Too windy for the topsHelvellyn from Swirls: the walkers’ way upNo stiles mapped; 5 gates on the line9.37 km~856 m climb~3¼–4½ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessWalked in partPark: Swirls, Thirlmere (paid) · Bus: 555 at the startThe straightforward way up England’s third-highest fell — no scrambling, no knife edges, just a long, honest and steep climb from Thirlmere up Browncove Crags (about 42% over its steepest 250 m) to the summit plateau, returning over Lower Man and White Side. This is the route to take if Striding Edge frightens you, and there is no shame whatever in taking it: the view from the top is exactly the same.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 38%. Exposure: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; that stretch not walked.
Too windy for the topsSt Sunday CragNo stiles mapped; 3 gates on the line10.22 km~838 m climb~3¼–4¾ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessWalked January 2025Park: Patterdale Hotel Car Park (Patterdale Hotel, paid) · Bus: 508 at the startThree tops and an outlier on the long Patterdale ridge: Arnison Crag, Birks and St Sunday Crag, with Gavel Pike a short detour off the summit, 10 km and 838 m. The walking line stays clear of the crags, but it is not all grass: the ridge to St Sunday Crag turns rocky, and the way back off Gavel Pike crosses steep grass and small rocky steps that are treacherous when wet or icy. The descent reaches about 45% over 250 m near 8.3 km.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest descent, about 45% over 250 m. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 24 September 2026. Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Arnison Crag (14 June 2026), Birks (14 June 2026) and St Sunday Crag (13 June 2026); they draw on Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.- Too windy for the topsAllen Crags & GlaramaraNo stiles mapped; 8 gates on the line10.94 km~853 m climb~3½–5 hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Seathwaite Farm, Borrowdale (free verge) · Bus: 78, 2.2 km walk from Seatoller, at National Trust car parkGlaramara's knobbly crest and Allen Crags, five summits linked along the ridge above Borrowdale. 853 m of climbing in 10.9 km, rated severe for steepness though navigation and exposure both stay moderate. About 3½–5 hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 49%. Exposure and navigation: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; not walked yet. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
- Too windy for the topsCatbells, Maiden Moor & High SpyNo stiles mapped; 1 gate on the line12.59 km~726 m climb~3½–5 hModerate effort Hard: steepnessWalked May 2026Park: Skelgill Bank, north car park · Bus: 77 at the startA ridge walk above the western shore of Derwentwater: from Hawes End over Catbells and Maiden Moor to High Spy, 12.6 km and 726 m. The pull onto Catbells is short and steep, about 36% over its steepest 250 m, with rocky steps where you may want your hands, and they are slippery when wet. High Spy has steep crags on both sides, so keep to the crest in wind or cloud. The ridge path is clear in good weather, but carry a map and compass for the cloud. The reward is Derwentwater and the Newlands valley below you the whole way.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 29%. Navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 24 September 2026. Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Cat Bells (Catbells) (13 June 2026), Maiden Moor (14 June 2026) and High Spy (14 June 2026); they draw on Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.
Too windy for the topsBlencathra via Blease FellNo stiles mapped; 1 gate on the line11.88 km~816 m climb~3½–5 hModerate effort Hard: steepness and navigationPlannedPark: Threlkeld village (no public car park, customers only) · Bus: X5 at the startA shorter, easier way up the great northern fell of Blencathra than my favourite round from Mungrisdale over Souther Fell. From Threlkeld it climbs the grassy shoulder of Blease Fell (Knowe Crags) to the summit, with a fine high traverse over Gategill Fell Top, Doddick Fell and Scales Fell, and it avoids the boggy ground of Mungrisdale Common. Easier than the ridges, not easy: its steepest 250 m runs at about 37%. A grand viewpoint over the northern fells and the Eden valley for the effort — and well clear of the notorious Sharp Edge.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 33%. Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Blencathra - Hallsfell Top (15 July 2026); they draw on Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.
Too windy for the topsNorth of SkiddawNo stiles mapped; 2 gates on the line13.22 km~729 m climb~3¾–5¼ hModerate effort Hard: steepnessWalked August 2024Park: Longlands Fell car parkEight tops in the grassy country north of Skiddaw — Longlands Fell, Brae Fell, the two Sca Fells, Meal Fell and Great Cockup among them. Gentle underfoot, but nearly a fifth of the line is featureless ground where a compass earns its keep.Navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
Too windy for the topsWest of GrasmereNo stiles mapped; 11 gates and 3 kissing gates on the line15.44 km~863 m climb~4½–6¼ hHard effort Hard: distanceWalked March 2025Park: Red Bank Road, Grasmere (W&F, paid) · Bus: 555, 320 m walk from Grasmere, opposite Heaton Cooper StudioSix tops on the rough ground west of Grasmere — Tarn Crag, Codale Head, Sergeant Man, Blea Rigg, Swinescar Pike and Silver How — in 15.4 km with 863 m of climbing. Hard for length, moderate for steepness; about 4½–6¼ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 24%. Terrain: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
Too windy for the topsCarrock Fell and KnottNo stiles mapped; 1 gate on the line16.62 km~751 m climb~4½–6¼ hHard effort Severe: steepnessWalked in partPark: Roadside parking for Carrock Fell (free)Five northern tops from Carrock Fell over Miton Hill and High Pike to Knott — 16.6 km and 751 m, with one stage climbing at an average of 25%. Severe for steepness, hard for length, but only moderate to navigate. About 4½–6¼ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 42%. Navigation: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; that stretch not walked. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
Too windy for the topsArd Crags & Knott RiggNo stiles mapped; 13 gates on the line19.31 km~708 m climb~5–6¾ hHard effort Hard: distance and steepnessPlannedOne-way: finishes at Keswick · Start: Braithwaite village (roadside/small areas) · Bus: 77 at the start
Too windy for the topsConiston Old Man RoundNo stiles mapped; 7 gates and 1 kissing gate on the line16.1 km~1155 m climb~5–7 hHard effort Severe: steepnessWalked August 2024Park: Coniston Station car park (paid) · Bus: 505, 520 m walk from Coniston, outside The Ruskin CentreA satisfying round of the Coniston fells, and a simpler approach to the Old Man than my longer outing. From Coniston it climbs to the Old Man itself, then follows the high ridge over Brim Fell and Swirl How and back over Wetherlam, with an out-and-back to Grey Friar along the way, which the distance and climb include. You can extend it further by adding Dow Crag. Big views over the southern fells and the sea, old copper-mine history underfoot, and a proper mountain feel without the biggest mileage.Measured from the GPX track: the distance.
Too windy for the topsBlencathra to Mungrisdale Common and over the backNo stiles mapped; 3 gates on the line17.59 km~1011 m climb~5–7 hHard effort Hard: distance and steepnessWalked May 2026Park: Mungrisdale village hall (paid) · Bus: 509, 3.2 km walk from Mungrisdale, adjacent to Road EndBlencathra by its southern ridges — Scales Fell and Doddick Fell onto Hallsfell Top — then over the back for Bannerdale Crags and Bowscale Fell, taking in Mungrisdale Common on the way. Nine tops, 17.6 km and 1,011 m, rated hard for steepness but only moderate for navigation and exposure. About 5–7 hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 30%. Exposure and navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.- Too windy for the topsEsk Pike and Great EndNo stiles mapped; 3 gates and 3 kissing gates on the line17.69 km~1103 m climb~5¼–7¼ hHard effort Hard: distance and steepnessPlannedPark: Old Dungeon Ghyll (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the startEsk Pike and Great End, the two big tops at the head of Eskdale, reached by a 17.7 km round with 1,103 m of climbing. It is a long, rough mountain day with steep sections, the steepest about 29% on the way down around the 13.8 km mark, and both navigation and exposure are rated moderate. Allow around 5¼–7¼ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 29%. Exposure, terrain and navigation: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; not walked yet. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
Too windy for the topsHelm Crag, Gibson Knott, Calf Crag, Steel Fell and Tarn CragNo stiles mapped; 13 gates and 1 kissing gate on the line20.82 km~950 m climb~5¾–7¾ hHard effort Severe: distanceWalked June 2024Park: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startThe full Far Easedale horseshoe from Grasmere, and a longer, wetter day than Helm Crag alone suggests. The true summit — the Howitzer — needs an exposed scramble, and beyond Gibson Knott the ground turns to peat hags and bog that stay wet in all seasons, with Brownrigg Moss the hardest crossing of the day.Exposure and terrain: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
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Map
● routes
An interactive map of the walks and fells in this collection. Each marker links to its page; the same walks and fells are listed on this page.
Common questions
How do you decide a walk is dog-friendly?
From data, not vibes: we pulled every mapped stile, gate and barrier along each route (our Stile & Gate Census) and a walk only makes this list when nothing on the mapped line blocks a dog's way round, it needs your hands for no more than a few rocky steps, and its exposure is graded Easy or Moderate by us, on the ground or as an editorial grade from the route’s documented character. A route with no stiles but an easy or a graded scramble, exposure graded Hard or Severe, or an exposure grade that is only an estimate from map data is left off. Where we have no barrier data for a route we say nothing at all rather than guess — an unverified route is never listed as dog-friendly. The flip side: mapping can be incomplete, so carry on past a surprise gate with good grace.
Does dog-friendly mean my dog can run off the lead?
No. This list is about physical barriers, not lead rules. Sheep graze nearly every fell and valley in the Lake District, often with lambs from spring; keep dogs on a short lead around any livestock and under close control at all times. Ground-nesting birds also mean lead-on in open fell country from March to July. The route guides flag anything specific we know about.
My dog is fit — can we do the big fell days here?
Several full fell rounds are on the list, but the rule says nothing about heat, rough ground underfoot, or how far a dog can sensibly go. Carry water (summit becks dry up in warm spells), watch paws on sharp ground, and pick shorter walks in warm weather — dogs overheat on open fells long before their owners do.