🐾 Dog-Friendly Staunton Harold at a Glance
🦮 Lead Rules: Off-lead areas, but do need lead around car parks and visitor centre
🚶♂️ Walk Length: 1-3 miles depending on route
🌿 Terrain: Lakeside paths, grassland, firm estate tracks
👀 Highlights: Reservoir views, tower windmill, shady woods, wildlife, picnic spots
🅿️ Parking: Main estate car park at the north end, but also a smaller car park at the southern end
About
Staunton Harold is tucked right on the Leicestershire–Derbyshire border. Owned by Severn Trent and cared for in partnership with the National Trust, this is a 163-acre countryside location, along with the reservoir, which itself is 210 acres.
Staunton Harold is great for dog walkers, offering a lovely mix of waterside paths, parkland, and woodland edges. The reservoir is the centrepiece, and you can trace its edge along gentle tracks. It’s not a strenuous walk, which makes it ideal if you fancy a slower day or you’re exploring with an older dog.
You have a couple of options to extend your walk.
- At the southern tip, you have Dimminsdale Nature Reserve, which allows dogs on leads and provides a nice extension to any loop walks. You do need to keep to the paths as the reserve has old limestone and lead mine shafts.
- You can also include Calke Abbey, the neighbouring estate.
Dog Access and Rules
Dogs are welcome, but must be on a lead near the car park, visitor facilities, play area, picnic benches, and inside the cafe.
Access and Facilities
There is a main estate car park at the north end, as well as a smaller car park at the southern end. The main car park has toilets, a dog-friendly seasonal cafe serving light refreshments, and a play area (no dogs).
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