Wrexham has National Trust estates, council country parks and old industrial valleys, and a new dog control order took effect on 1 October 2026. We’ve set out what the council says and which walks we could confirm from official pages. Where a page was silent on dogs, we’ve said so rather than guess.
The council’s 2026 order
Wrexham County Borough Council’s Dog Control and Dog Fouling Public Spaces Protection Order 2026 runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029, according to the council’s page. You must remove dog mess immediately and carry a bag to do it. Dogs are excluded from fenced children’s play areas, skate parks, tennis courts, multi-use games areas, the playing areas of marked sports pitches and bowling green surfaces. Dogs must be on a lead on all public roads and pavements (public rights of way are excepted), and when an officer directs it. The order sets no limit on the number of dogs.
A lead is required at all times in marked zones at Alyn Waters Country Park, Tŷ Mawr Country Park, Nant Mill Visitor Centre, the two car parks at Bellevue Park and all open bowling greens. The fixed penalty is £100, or £75 if paid within seven days, and the court fine can reach level 3. We read the order PDF, whose signature block was blank in our copy, so check the council’s page if the exact date matters. Some older council pages say “lead in signposted areas” at all country parks, so follow the 2026 zones and the signs.
National Trust estates
At Erddig, the garden needs a short non-extending lead, and the wider parkland needs a lead and close control because livestock graze there. There is one signed off-lead zone near Felin Puleston Countryside Centre and a free dog agility area, Woof’s Den, in Big Wood. Dogs aren’t allowed in the Hall, the Hayloft Restaurant, the shop or the Wolf’s Den play area. The 1.5-mile Riverside Walk is on leads because of grazing stock. Chirk Castle (LL14 5AF) allows dogs across its 480-acre estate, on a short lead in the formal gardens and Pleasure Ground Wood. Dogs aren’t allowed in the kitchen garden or play area, and we couldn’t confirm a livestock rule for the wider parkland.
Country parks and valleys
Alyn Waters (LL11 4AG at Gwersyllt, LL12 0PU at Llay) has woodland, grassland and river trails, with parking at £1 a day at the time we looked. Nant Mill (LL11 3BT) is ancient woodland on the River Clywedog and part of the 6.5-mile Clywedog Valley Trail. Tŷ Mawr (LL14 3PE) at Cefn Mawr has a surfaced one-mile circuit and a four-mile viaduct and aqueduct walk, and farm animals including sheep and llamas on site, so keep a close eye on your dog. Minera Lead Mines (LL11 3DU), Bonc-yr-Hafod (LL14 6HF), Stryt Las (LL14 2AB) and Moss Valley (LL11 4UR) all say dogs should be under control. The Canal & River Trust’s Chirk Aqueduct page gives no dog rules, so we haven’t stated any for the towpath.
What we couldn’t confirm
We didn’t confirm the borough position of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Trevor Basin, and Llangollen is in Denbighshire. Acton Park and Brynkinalt Park pages gave no postcode. We found no livestock rule for the council parks other than at Tŷ Mawr, and we didn’t check Welsh legislation beyond the council’s order.
Livestock and busy visitor sites can overwhelm some dogs, and a calming bite may help take the edge off. If your dog struggles to settle outdoors, that’s worth a chat with your vet. For everything else, see our Wrexham dog services hub, and for a fenced space to let a reactive dog run, our secure dog fields in Wrexham.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fine for dog fouling in Wrexham?
The council’s 2026 order sets a fixed penalty of £100, or £75 if paid within seven days.
Does my dog need to be on a lead at Alyn Waters?
In the marked zones, yes, at all times. Elsewhere in the park, keep your dog under control and follow the signs.
Can dogs run off lead at Erddig?
Only in the signed off-lead zone near Felin Puleston Countryside Centre. Elsewhere, dogs need a lead and close control.
Written by Georgiana & Figo, who has strong views on parkland sheep.
