A proper Peak District market town on the River Wye, famous for its pudding and surrounded by some of the loveliest dale walks in England. Here is how we would spend a day in Bakewell with your dog.
Bakewell is the little capital of the White Peak, a stone town gathered around a medieval bridge over the River Wye, with a bustling market and the smell of its famous pudding never far away. What makes it a great dog day is what lies just outside it: the flat, easy Monsal Trail along an old railway, and the wildflower limestone dales that wind between the villages. Town for lunch, dales for the walking.
A dale or a trail in the morning, a potter round the market town, a good lunch and a pint in a proper Peak pub is the shape of a Bakewell day. This is how we would spend it, with the real, well-reviewed places we would actually take our own dog.
1
Morning: dales and an old railway
The Monsal Trail is the easy classic, a flat, traffic-free path along a former railway line that runs through tunnels and over soaring viaducts with the dale falling away below, ideal for a dog and any pair of legs. For something wilder, Lathkill Dale from Over Haddon is one of the prettiest limestone valleys in the Peak, a clear river running through wildflower meadows. Keep dogs on leads for the livestock and ground-nesting birds.
Both give a dog miles of river, meadow and big Peak scenery, and both drop you back within reach of a Bakewell tea room.
Back in town, Bakewell is made for a potter: a busy Monday market, independent shops and the medieval bridge over the Wye where the ducks and trout gather. The Old House Museum, a Tudor house tucked behind the church, welcomes well-behaved dogs if you fancy a dose of local history between walks.
You cannot leave without trying a Bakewell pudding, and plenty of spots will let your dog watch you eat one. The Honey Bun Cafe welcomes dogs, the Aisseford Tea Room takes them in its outdoor seating, and out at the end of the Monsal Trail the Farmers Feast is a handy dog-friendly stop for hungry walkers. The Woodyard welcomes dogs inside and out too.
A short drive out at Little Longstone, the Packhorse Inn is the walkers' favourite, a snug old pub where muddy boots, children and dogs are all equally welcome and beer is served straight from the barrel. In town, the Joiners Arms welcomes well-behaved dogs inside, and the Bull's Head keeps a water barrel and bowls out in the garden.
For a special stay, the Peacock at Rowsley is a smart riverside hotel that welcomes dogs in its rooms and garden, a lovely base between Bakewell and Chatsworth. In town, the Rutland Arms Hotel, said to be where the Bakewell pudding was invented, has dog-friendly courtyard mews rooms right on the square.
A flat old railway trail over soaring viaducts, wildflower dales and a proper pudding at the end. Bakewell is the Peak District at its most welcoming.
What to pack for a day out
The short list that turns a good day into an easy one. Throw it in the boot before you set off.
Water bottle and collapsible bowl
Towel for the boot
Poo bags, always
Spare lead and a long line
Treats for the pub
ID tag and vaccinations up to date
Questions dog owners ask
Is the Monsal Trail dog friendly?
Yes, the Monsal Trail is one of the best dog walks in the Peak District: a flat, traffic-free former railway line through tunnels and over viaducts, easy for any dog, with cafes at either end. Keep dogs under control for cyclists and horses.
What is the best dog walk near Bakewell?
The Monsal Trail is the easy flat classic, and Lathkill Dale from Over Haddon is a beautiful limestone valley walk along a clear river. Keep dogs on leads in the dales for grazing livestock and wildlife.
Which Bakewell pubs take dogs?
The Packhorse Inn at nearby Little Longstone is the walkers' favourite with dogs warmly welcome, while in town the Joiners Arms welcomes well-behaved dogs inside and the Bull's Head keeps water and bowls in the garden.
Where can I stay near Bakewell with a dog?
The Peacock at Rowsley is a smart riverside hotel welcoming dogs in rooms and garden, and the Rutland Arms Hotel on Bakewell's square has dog-friendly courtyard mews rooms.
Can dogs visit Bakewell's attractions?
The Old House Museum welcomes well-behaved dogs, the market and riverside are dog-friendly for a wander, and the surrounding dales and trails are all open to dogs on leads. Nearby Chatsworth's parkland is dog-friendly too.
Bakewell through the seasons
Spring
The dales fill with wildflowers and the river runs clear and full. Keep leads handy for lambs and ground-nesting birds. A Lathkill Dale walk and a Bakewell pudding is spring here at its best.
Summer
The town gets busy, especially on market day, so walk the dales early and carry water. The Monsal Trail tunnels stay cool, and the Wye offers plenty of spots for a dog to paddle.
Autumn
The dale woods turn gold and the crowds thin. Crisp trail walks, clear rivers and warm tea rooms make for a lovely, mellow autumn day in the White Peak.
Winter
Frosty and quiet. Wrap up for a bracing Monsal Trail walk, then warm up by the fire at the Packhorse with a muddy dog and a slice of something at your feet.