We encourage all our groups to allow dogs on walks as we recognise that many people enjoy walking with their four-legged friends. Some walks won't be suitable for dogs (for example when the route covers a particular type of terrain or young farm animals are present) and the ultimate decision on whether to allow dogs lies with the individual group or walk leader.
Please therefore contact the individual walk leader or group to ask them whether they allow dogs on their walks. If you do take a dog, please keep it under close control and on a short lead, especially on farmland. Our Walking with Dogs page provides useful guidance for walking near livestock and for meeting aggressive dogs.
Please note under the Equality Act (2010) the wording of ‘no dogs’ on walks programmes is in breach of the Act. The Act covers indirect disability discrimination. This occurs when there is a policy or practice which disadvantages people with a disability. An example from the Act is a ‘No Dogs’ rule which particularly disadvantages assistance dog users. Therefore an organisation is required to make reasonable adjustment to this rule to ensure that no disadvantage occurs.
If groups, areas or walk leaders do not wish to have dogs on their walks they must state 'Assistance Dogs Only'. If walk leaders are concerned about the suitability and safety of the walk for an assistance dog, they may ask walkers with assistance dogs to get in touch in advance to discuss the walk.
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