Lake District

[jonsav]

I live in Central London and love walking with my dog which I do every day in Hyde Park. Last year I decided to go to the Lake District thinking we both would have a great time wandering free amongst the hills and lakes.
The reality was that having a dog restricted me greatly. There were lots of signs saying No Dogs, or Dogs on Leads etc. and lots of places where we felt very unwelcome and we were glad to get back to London to enjoy some freedom.
Now, I am not knocking the Lake District as I think it is the most beautiful place in Britain and I want to go again this summer, but my question is does anyone know of places where I can let the dog run freely without the worry and stress which I experienced last year.
I am sure some people will take this wrong and become very defensive about the LD so let me just reiterate that I think the LD is a wonderful place I just need to know where myself and my companion (the dog) can wander freely.
Thank you
Jonathan

[kml]

Firstly welcome to WAB.
There is a link to a website that I think might help you its in Walking cycling and camping and the thread is called WALKING WITH DOGS the person who posted it is called KIDSTYPIKE.
The website consentrates mainly on the LD and has walks for dogs and owners.I hope you have better luck on your next trip.

[thwick in 'ead]

I have done plenty of walking in the Lake District with my dog. Yes there are places where your dog must be kept on a lead, this is especially so where there are sheep, and here we must blame the inconsiderate dog owners who cannot control their dogs when off the lead and who's dogs chase the livestock.

Even though my dog has been trained to ignore sheep, out of coutesy to the farming community I still keep her on the lead in the lower pastures where sheep are in large numbers, but once on the high fells, I allow her to roam free. But saying that, she never wanders far from me, so I have no problems controlling her and will always put her on the lead if asked to do so.

So that my dog can still enjoy herself when on the lead, rather than a normal lead, I have a long length of nylon tape - 5 metres - which with the addition of a plastics "D" ring at one end and a loop at the other, I have made into a lead. It's also very lightweight compared with, say, the retracting type lead.

Nest time you decide to get out of that oppressive, claustrophobic city we call our capital, try Grizedale Forest. Plenty of walks there and great for mountain biking too.

[jonsav]

Thank you, these 2 comments have been most helpful.