OUT AND ABOUT
Dog
Walks & Events
Information
Walkers
Up to date walks and events information can
be found on our website:
www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
Please read the following information before
Welcome
setting out.
Top tips for a cracking day out
Everyone is welcome to enjoy the delights of Exmoor
National Park, 692 sq. km of moorland, woodland,
coastal cliffs, hidden valleys and a farmed landscape
with a history stretching back thousands of years.
And what better way than to explore and discover
with your faithful, four legged friend?
As with any activity, there are a few simple things
that you can do that will make everyone’s
experience a good one and keep you coming
back time after time.
Why do I need to keep my
dog on a lead?
Generally, your dog should be under close
control at all times and there are specific
areas and times of the year that they may need to be
Image © Aardman Animations Ltd 2004
kept on a lead. There are good reasons for keeping
Charges for Exmoor National Park
your dog under control:
And where can we go for a walk?
Authority walks & events
Wildlife
Walks up to 4 hours £3. Over 4 hours £5.
Children under 16 and students in full time
During the ground-nesting bird season (1st March to
On Footpaths and Bridleways
education free. Events £1 per person including
31st July), wildlife is easily disturbed which can lead to
children. Contact: Exmoor National Park
eggs not hatching or young chicks being taken by
There are over 1000km of rights of way on Exmoor
Centre Dulverton on 01398 323841.
predators whilst unguarded by their parents.
for you and your dog to enjoy.
A small charge for walks or events may also be
made by other organisations please phone
On ‘public rights of way’ there is no legal requirement
contact numbers listed for information.
to keep your dog on a lead but, unless you are very
confident about your dog’s obedience, we strongly
What to bring
recommend that you do. Please wear sensible clothing appropriate to the
weather and countryside, walking boots are
There are all sorts of scents and smells that may prove
recommended. You might like to bring your own
too tempting to resist and result in your dog
binoculars and there are plenty of opportunities to
disappearing into the distance.
take photographs. Don’t forget your packed lunch
You will inevitably meet other people, dogs, cyclists
and a drink on long walks over lunchtime.
Curlew (photo by Heather Lowther)
and horse-riders at some point. There is potential for
confrontation if your dog is out of control.
Groups
By keeping your dog on a lead and using defined tracks
Groups of ten people or more will not normally be
and paths between these dates you can help us protect
In open country
accepted. A separate service is available and
and conserve Exmoor’s vulnerable moorland birds.
group leaders should contact the Education
There are over 18,000 hectares of open country for
Officer at Exmoor House, 01398 323665.
Livestock - if you come across cows or sheep it is
you to explore on Exmoor.
likely that they will react to you and your dog.
Trespass and safety
Although you now have a right to explore open country
All reasonable attempts are made to ensure that
Sheep – on the whole, sheep and lambs will run away,
on foot, your dog must be kept on a fixed lead at all
the walks and events listed are safe and do not
often leading to a game of ‘chase’. Although great fun
times near livestock and at ALL times from 1st March
involve trespass, but no covenant to this effect is
for your dog, it is distressing for the sheep and, in the
to 31st July during the bird nesting season.
made or can be implied. All persons taking part in
worst case, a landowner can shoot your pet if it is felt
any of the walks do so entirely at their own risk
that the dog is ‘worrying livestock’.
Further information.
and on the strict understanding that Exmoor
National Park Authority, its servants and agents
Cattle – cows are naturally inquisitive and will come
For more information on this and general information
(including the guides) accept no responsibility
towards you. If there are calves present, the cows
about how to get the best out of your time on Exmoor,
whatsoever for any injury (including death) to any
may become aggressive and try to protect their young
please visit one of our National Park Centres, Local
persons, or destruction to property, however
from the ‘threat’ of your dog. If this happens, drop the
Information Points (see page 2 for details) or check out
caused (including negligence) by or in connection
lead and get to a place of safety – your dog will be
the website :
with participation in the walks and events.
able to look after itself!
www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
10 Exmoor Visitor 2007
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40