Dog-Friendly Moorland Walks in the South West
Open access land, streams for swimming, and paths where the dog can actually be a dog.
The three moors — Dartmoor, Exmoor, and Bodmin — are among the best places in England to walk a dog. Large areas are designated open access land, meaning you can walk where you like rather than being confined to footpaths. That's rare in England.
There are real responsibilities that come with that freedom: stock grazing across the moors means dogs must be under close control at all times near livestock, and there are temporary exclusion zones during ground-nesting bird season (roughly March to July in sensitive areas).
The routes below have been selected because they offer good space for dogs to run, reliable path surfaces, and either no livestock or predictable livestock management.
Who this page is for
- Dog owners who want proper moorland walking rather than park paths and footpaths
- People with energetic dogs who need real space and terrain — the moors offer this in a way few other places in southern England do
- Walkers who want to combine their dog's needs (water, space, exercise) with a rewarding walk for themselves
- Anyone unsure about livestock, access rules or seasonal restrictions on the moors — this page covers the essentials
119 walks to explore
About this area
Dartmoor has the largest area of open access land of the three moors and is generally the most dog-friendly. Exmoor has more enclosed farmland interspersed with the open moor — the coast path is excellent but requires more care near cliff edges. Bodmin's open plateau around Brown Willy and Rough Tor is ideal for dogs in summer when livestock is absent from much of the common land.
Safety on this terrain
Dogs must be on a lead near all livestock — this is a legal requirement in England, not a suggestion. During lambing season (roughly February–April) you must keep dogs on leads across all farmland adjoining the moor. If a dog worries livestock and cannot be immediately brought under control, farmers have a legal right to shoot it. Never let a dog run towards horses, cattle or sheep, even at a distance.
When to go
Spring (Apr–May)
Ground-nesting season — keep dogs on leads near bracken and heather. Lambing: strict control near all farm stock. Rivers swimable from late May.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Excellent for water-loving dogs — streams and rivers across all three moors. Keep dogs away from adder habitat in warm weather on south-facing slopes.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Deer rutting season on Exmoor — keep dogs well under control near red deer. Dartmoor ponies with foals on the high moor.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Fewer livestock on the open moor. Best season for swimming dogs — cold but refreshing streams on Dartmoor.
Explore more
Plan your visit
Use the interactive map to explore routes, check conditions, and plan your day across all three moors.
Open the map