Some of our favourite dog-friendly things to do in Dorset

Lulworth Cove & Durdle Door Beach

You can’t visit Dorset without snapping a few photos of magnificent Durdle Door. This awe-inspiring, seaswept, ancient stone arch is one of the most iconic spots on the Dorset coast. Framed by glittering sea and a sweep of shingle and sand beach, dogs are free to frolic here year round. To get here, either take the South West Coast Path from Lulworth Cove or park at the top of the cliffs and take the (very) steep, stepped path down. It’s a bit of an adventure but totally worth it!

Water activities

If your dog has their sea legs there’s nothing nicer than taking to the water in Dorset. Wareham Boat Hire has a vast range of vessels. Hire motor boats, kayaks, canoes, rowing boats or paddle boards for a trip along the River Frome and into Poole Harbour. Or, if you’d like someone to skipper for you, then hop on one of their boat trips. There are options to paddle up river to explore fields and water meadows or downstream amongst bobbing boats and yachts. The entire area is a haven for birds and wildlife and you’ll spot plenty.

Corfe Castle 

National Trust property, Corfe Castle gives off an air of ancient romance and mystery. Home to kings, knights and a famous princess, it’s seen its fair share of bloody battles and today the ruins look proudly out across Purbeck. Dogs on leads are welcome in the castle, tea-room (indoor and outdoor seating), shop and information centre and on all the surrounding walking trails. They also have a good supply of water bowls dotted around for thirsty canines.

Upton Country Park 

Upton Park works for everyone – families, dog-walkers, visitors and locals alike. With 160 acres of park and woodland, 32 acres of formal garden and a stretch of shoreline, there’s plenty here to keep everyone happy. Dogs are warmly invited, with a dedicated car park just for dog walkers, lots of areas to run free (some where they need to be on a lead) and their very own dog wash space. Check out the bird hide, take long walks through woodland and along the shore, marvel at the walled garden then head to the tea room to rest everyone’s legs.

Swanage Railway train ride

All aboard! Dogs travel for a small fee on Swanage Railway so hop aboard (April to September) for a diesel or steam train ride from Wareham into the heart of the Isle of Purbeck, with stops at Corfe Castle, Norden and Swanage. A return journey takes just over an hour but it’s worth hopping on and off to visit the Swanage Railway Museum at Corfe Castle and the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum at Norden.

Hambledon Hill 

One of the best-preserved Neolithic landscapes in Europe, Hambledon Hill is one of the finest Iron Age hill forts in Dorset. Rising steeply above Blackmore Vale and the River Stour, the climb rewards you with far-reaching views across three counties – Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire – from the summit. It is a Site of Special Scientific Importance (SSSI) and a National Nature Reserve and on your visit you’ll spot butterflies (28 species have been recorded), birds soaring overhead, perhaps a brown hare or a glowworm, rare orchids and carpets of wildflowers. Dogs are welcome but you should take a lead. 

Browse all of our dog-friendly places to stay in Dorset >

Written by
Carmen McCormack

Carmen is a freelance writer specialising in travel. She once lived in a bus in north Wales, skipped off to study in Barcelona, and now calls Bristol home. When she’s not tapping away on her laptop, she can be found reading (a lot), lake swimming (a little), and pottering on the allotment with husband and two kiddos. She’s currently dreaming about cold cerveza and torta in Mexico.