Hatfield Forest National Nature Reserve is an example of what a medieval royal hunting forest would have been like. The forest trails are ideal for dog walking, wandering along the open grassland or exploring the 1,000 acres of wooded areas with a network of paths. Dogs are allowed in all parts of the Forest except the fenced sheep enclosures and the dog-free zone between the Shell House and the Decoy Lake. These are all signposted.

Hatfield Forest is a National Nature Reserve Site of Special Scientific Interest which means dogs must be kept under control at all times. There are over 4,000 different species of wildlife, including deer and songbirds.

The cafe allows dogs and has views of the lake, serving a variety of lunches, snacks, savouries, sweet treats, and hot and cold drinks. The cafe only has outdoor seating.

In the winter, car parking is limited to the hard-standing area to reduce damage to the Forest. The car parks will be closed when they reach capacity.