North Yorkshire’s best dog walks run from National Trust parkland and the Dales to a council-run coastal PSPO that’s the most precisely dated of any we’ve researched so far. One genuine point worth knowing: the North York Moors have a stricter grouse-moorland rule than the Yorkshire Dales, which is easy to miss if you assume the two national parks work the same way.
National Trust sites
Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal — short lead at all times across the water garden, abbey ruins and deer park; let dogs off lead and recall if cattle approach; extra care near wildlife September-February and in deer fawning season; dogs excluded from Fountains Hall and the Porter’s Lodge. Beningbrough Hall — short lead in the gardens, close control and stay on paths in the parkland; dogs excluded from the wilderness play area and the hall itself. Rievaulx Terrace — dogs “very welcome” on a short lead due to wildlife and sheep. Nunnington Hall — short lead at all times, since peacocks roam the whole site; only assistance dogs inside. Yorkshire Dales NT properties, including Malham Tarn Estate — close control, preferably on lead, with dogs banned from the Tarn’s nature-reserve boardwalk and not allowed to swim in the Tarn itself. Brimham Rocks — short lead throughout, with extra care staying on footpaths from 1 March to 31 July for ground-nesting birds.
Two national parks, two different rules
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority follows the standard Countryside and Rights of Way Act default: short lead March-July for ground-nesting birds, dog at heel or on lead near livestock, with no separate local byelaw found beyond that. The North York Moors National Park Authority goes further: dogs are not allowed at all on most grouse-moorland Open Access land, with the only exception being public rights of way crossing it, where a short lead or heel is required — a genuine, legally-backed restriction rather than just advice, and a real point of difference from the Dales.
Coastal beaches: the most precisely dated PSPO we’ve found
North Yorkshire Council’s dog control PSPO, covering the former Scarborough Borough coastline, sets a seasonal total ban (1 May-30 September) on named beach stretches at Filey, Scarborough North Bay, Scarborough South Bay, Whitby West Beach and Sandsend, down to the exact landmarks marking each boundary. Two further spots — Tate Hill Beach and West Cliff Sports/Recreation Area in Whitby — require a lead rather than a total exclusion over the same dates. Promenades at all these locations require a lead year-round. This order has been reviewed and consulted on repeatedly through 2024-2025, so check North Yorkshire Council’s own page before a visit in case the zones or dates shift again.
Genuine gaps
Malham Cove itself has no site-specific dog policy beyond the general Yorkshire Dales livestock/ground-nesting rules — a different matter from the separately-ruled Malham Tarn Estate above. Sutton Bank, Hole of Horcum and Goathland all have no published site-specific dog policy beyond the North York Moors’ general moorland rules. Dalby Forest (Forestry England) has no site-specific published policy we could confirm, only generic national guidance. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust publishes seasonal press guidance urging leads near nesting birds and livestock, but no standing, reserve-by-reserve dog-access policy page — treat this as a genuine gap rather than assume a blanket rule either way.
Between the Moors’ stricter grouse-moorland rule and a coastal order that’s reviewed every year or so, North Yorkshire takes a bit of checking before you head out. A calming bite can help take the edge off a walk somewhere busy and unfamiliar. If your dog struggles to settle regardless of where you walk, that’s worth a conversation with your vet or a qualified trainer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs go on grouse moorland in the North York Moors?
No, not off the public rights of way — most grouse-moorland Open Access land excludes dogs entirely, with only the paths crossing it open, and a short lead or heel required there.
Can dogs go on Whitby’s beaches all year round?
Not on West Beach between 1 May and 30 September, when it’s fully excluded. Tate Hill Beach allows dogs on a lead over the same dates rather than excluding them entirely.
Is there a dog policy for Malham Cove?
No site-specific one — only the Yorkshire Dales’ general livestock and ground-nesting-bird guidance applies.
For everything else dog-related in North Yorkshire, see our Dog Services in North Yorkshire hub — and if you fancy staying over for a longer explore, our guide to dog-friendly accommodation in North Yorkshire has the verified options.
Written by Georgiana & Figo, who treats every moor as a personal invitation to chase the horizon.
