Hereford is a lovely little city to explore with a dog. You’ve got the River Wye running right through the middle, open green spaces a few minutes from the shops, and woods and country estates a short drive away. We’re asked all the time at the deli counter where people can go with their dogs, so we’ve put together our favourite dog friendly places in Hereford and just outside it. Every place below has said on its own website (or the council’s) that dogs are welcome, and we’ve noted any rules they ask you to follow.
Walks in the city
Castle Green, Victoria Bridge and Bishop’s Meadow
For easy dog walks, Hereford’s riverside is hard to beat. Start on Castle Green, the open space where Hereford’s castle once stood, then cross the River Wye on Victoria Bridge to Bishop’s Meadow on the far bank. From the meadow you get some of the best views of the cathedral, and you can loop back into town over the Old Bridge. It’s the route Hereford BID suggests in its Hereford City Life dog-friendly trail. For more ideas, see our guide to dog walks in Hereford.
A couple of things to know. Under Herefordshire Council’s dog control order, dogs aren’t allowed on the bowling green on Castle Green or on the tennis courts and putting green at Bishop’s Meadow. You must always pick up after your dog, and an authorised officer can ask you to put your dog on a lead if it’s causing a problem. The full order and maps are on the council’s dog control page.
Hereford Cathedral
Yes, really. Hereford Cathedral welcomes dogs, as long as they stay under control on a short, fixed lead and are never tied up or left alone. Dogs can’t go into the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library museum, the cloisters, the indoor seating area of the Cathedral Café, or services, tours and events. Assistance dogs can go everywhere. There’s a water bowl in the Chapter House Garden, and the cathedral asks that dogs use the main Cathedral Close rather than the gardens when nature calls.
Walks a short drive away
Queenswood Country Park and Arboretum
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s Queenswood, on Dinmore Hill, warmly welcomes responsible dog owners. Dogs need to be on a lead in the car parks, around the visitor centre and café, in the picnic area by the playground, and in the North and South Woods. They aren’t allowed in the fenced children’s play area, but they can be off the lead in the arboretum if they’re under close control. Well-behaved, quiet dogs are welcome in the Woodland Café too.
Haugh Woods
Forestry England says dogs are welcome at Haugh Woods, a big mixed woodland known for its butterflies and moths. There are two waymarked trails from the main car park, with information boards about the butterflies and the conservation work in the wood. Forestry England asks that dogs are kept under control.
Brockhampton
The National Trust’s Brockhampton estate has miles of woods and parkland, and dogs are welcome in the grounds and on all the waymarked routes. It’s a farmed estate with livestock, so dogs must be on a lead at all times. They can come into the courtyard and the seating area opposite The Granary, but only assistance dogs can go inside The Granary or the manor house. There are water bowls dotted around the site.
Bodenham Lake
At Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s Bodenham Lake reserve, dogs need to be under effective control and on a lead when livestock are grazing. There are two easy-access paths around part of the lake from the car park.
Dog friendly cafés in Hereford
De Koffie Pot
Down by the river at the Left Bank, De Koffie Pot says four-legged visitors are always welcome, whether you’re in for a coffee, brunch or a drink. It’s handy at the end of a riverside walk.
Lyde Court Café
About two miles out of the city, Lyde Court Café is a countryside café in a 17th-century barn. Dogs are welcome throughout its walks and café grounds, and there are printable walking maps if you’d like to stretch your legs first.
Ace K9 Doggy Deli
And yes, we’re one of the dog friendly cafes Hereford dog owners tell their friends about. You’ll find us in The Atrium at Maylord Orchards, right in the city centre. Dogs are welcome inside, with fresh water and a comfy bed while you have a coffee, and there’s a puppuccino for them if they’ve been good. Have a look at the café, and if you’d like to pick up something for the walk home, our natural dog treats are all on the shelves at the deli counter. Directions and opening times are on our visit page.
Dog-friendly pubs
The Cock of Tupsley
On Hampton Dene Road in Tupsley, The Cock of Tupsley lists itself as a dog-friendly pub. It welcomes dogs alongside you, and there’s a beer garden for sunny days.
Hereford has plenty more pubs and cafés that are happy to see dogs, and Hereford BID’s dog-friendly trail is a good place to find more ideas.
A few tips for a dog friendly Hereford day out
- Take water and bags. Some places put bowls out, but not all, and picking up after your dog is a legal requirement across Herefordshire.
- Have a lead handy. Many places ask for leads in some areas, and the rules can change with the seasons, for example when livestock are out.
- Mind other visitors. Busy paths and cafés are shared spaces, so keep your dog close and calm.
- Plan a rest stop. A long day of sniffing is tiring work. A café break with a bowl of water goes down well with most dogs.
Check before you go
We checked every place on this list against its own website or an official source in October 2026. Rules, access and opening times can change, especially around events, lambing or bird-nesting seasons, so please check the venue’s website or give them a ring before you set off. If you spot something that’s changed, let us know when you’re in and we’ll update this guide.
Whichever dog friendly places in Hereford you try first, we hope you have a brilliant day out together.