Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0Dog-friendly days out in Surrey
Box Hill near Tadworth welcomes well-controlled dogs, Newlands Corner near Albury lets them run under close control, and Chobham Common has heath to explore with dogs kept on paths in spring and summer. For a dog-friendly café stop, Painshill in Cobham welcomes dogs on a short fixed lead in its Tea Room.
Surrey has plenty of open ground for dogs, from the heath of Chobham Common and Frensham to the chalk slopes of Box Hill and Newlands Corner. The rules differ from place to place, so each walk below has a note on leads, paths and seasonal restrictions. Chobham Common, for example, asks dogs to stay on paths from 1 March to 15 September, to protect ground-nesting birds.
Box Hill's café lets dogs on short leads in, Claremont Landscape Garden allows dogs on short leads in most areas and inside the café, and Painshill's Tea Room is open to dogs on a fixed lead. Winkworth Arboretum's café and shop also welcome dogs on short leads all year.
Some attractions do not allow dogs at all, so check the rules before you plan a family visit. Bocketts Farm Park does not admit dogs to the farm park, Hobbledown in Epsom does not admit them apart from assistance dogs, and dogs are not allowed on the beaches at Frensham Great Pond. Check the rules before you go.
Every place here is checked against its official website; the latest check was on .
Commons, heath and open land
Big open spaces where dogs can run, with paths to keep to and seasonal rules.
Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0Chobham Common
One of the largest National Nature Reserves in south-east England, 574 hectares of lowland heath between Chobham and Longcross. Surrey County Council owns it and Surrey Wildlife Trust manages the conservation, with cattle grazing to keep the heath open.
Why it's here: Dogs must stay on paths and under close control from 1 March to 15 September to protect ground-nesting birds. There are no toilets or refreshments on site.
Photo: Peter S, CC BY-SA 2.0Frensham Great Pond and Common
A large medieval pond with sandy beaches on Frensham Common, about 1,000 acres of heathland owned by the National Trust and mostly managed by Waverley Borough Council. The ponds were dug in the Middle Ages to supply fish to the Bishop of Winchester.
Why it's here: Dogs are not allowed on the beaches or barrows, and should be on leads from March to August. The café is open all year.
Photo: Christopher Hilton, CC BY-SA 2.0Hindhead Commons and the Devil's Punch Bowl
A huge natural hollow in the heathland above Hindhead, reunited with the commons since the A3 went into the Hindhead Tunnel in 2011. Trails lead around the rim and up to Gibbet Hill, Surrey's second-highest point, past grazing Exmoor ponies.
Why it's here: Keep dogs on a short lead at all times. The commons are open dawn to dusk, with trails round the rim of the Devil's Punch Bowl.
Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0Horton Country Park
A 400-acre country park on the north-west edge of Epsom, about half of it a Local Nature Reserve of fields, hedgerows, ancient coppice woodland and ponds. Paths are open to walkers, cyclists and riders, and Hobbledown, a golf centre and an equestrian centre share the site.
Why it's here: Dogs are welcome under close control. The park is free, with ancient coppiced woodland, ponds and waymarked paths.
Walks with dogs and a café
Places where dogs can come along for a walk and a bite to eat.
Photo: Victor Ochieng, CC BY-SA 2.0Box Hill
A chalk hill on the North Downs with wide views over the Mole Valley and the Weald, ancient box woodland and chalk grassland. It is a popular start for waymarked walks, the North Downs Way and the Zig Zag Road cycle climb used in the 2012 Olympic road race.
Why it's here: Well-controlled dogs are welcome, on leads where livestock graze. Dogs on short leads can go into the café at the top.
Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0Newlands Corner
A chalk viewpoint more than 170 metres up on the North Downs, looking south over the Tillingbourne valley to the Greensand Ridge. It has 415 acres of downland and woodland, a Discovery Centre, a natural play area and three waymarked trails.
Why it's here: Dogs are welcome under close control and on paths. The café opens daily from 9am.
Photo: Amandajm, CC BY-SA 3.0Painshill
A 160-acre 18th-century landscape garden in Cobham, laid out as a series of views around a serpentine lake with follies placed along the way. It is run by an independent charity, Painshill Park Trust, and the old house is private and not part of the visit.
Why it's here: Dogs are welcome on a short, fixed lead on the paths and in the Tea Room, which is open from November to January on Wednesday to Sunday.
Photo: nick macneill, CC BY-SA 2.0Claremont Landscape Garden
An 18th-century garden shaped by Vanbrugh, Bridgeman, William Kent and Capability Brown, once a royal retreat for Princess Charlotte and later bought by Queen Victoria. Paths lead round a serpentine lake to a grass amphitheatre, a grotto and the Belvedere Tower.
Why it's here: Dogs on short leads are welcome in most areas and inside the café, but not in the play areas or by the lake.
Parks and gardens
Parks where dogs can come with you, with some areas out of bounds.
Photo: Dr Neil Clifton, CC BY-SA 2.0Priory Park, Reigate
A park of historic interest off Bell Street in Reigate, with lakes, a sunken garden and plenty of wildlife. Families come for the playground with sensory and splash areas, the skatepark and the café in the pavilion.
Why it's here: Dogs must be on leads in the formal areas, such as the sunken garden, café area and tennis courts.
Photo: Alan Hunt, CC BY-SA 2.0Frimley Lodge Park
A 24-hectare council park beside the Basingstoke Canal with open grass, woodland, meadows and picnic areas. It has held a Green Flag award for 22 years running and is home to two playgrounds, a cafe and the Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway.
Why it's here: Dogs may be off lead under control, but are not allowed in the play areas. The park has free entry and free parking.
Photo: ChrisParkinson, CC BY-SA 3.0Polesden Lacey
The Edwardian country retreat of the society hostess Margaret Greville, set in a 1,600-acre estate of downland and ancient woodland with views across to Ranmore Common. The ground-floor rooms hold her collection of paintings, ceramics and French furniture, and the gardens include a walled rose garden and long herbaceous borders.
Why it's here: Dogs on leads are welcome in selected areas of the grounds and off lead on the wider estate, away from livestock. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the formal gardens and house.
Attractions with dogs
Places where dogs are welcome on leads at the café, shop or wharf.
Photo: Alan Hunt, CC BY-SA 2.0Winkworth Arboretum
A hillside arboretum of more than 1,000 trees and shrubs planted by Dr Wilfrid Fox, running down to a lake and boathouse, and famous for its autumn colour. A visitor centre with a café and shop sits at the top.
Why it's here: Dogs on short leads are welcome in the arboretum, café and shop all year.
Photo: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0River Wey Navigations and Dapdune Wharf
The visitor centre for the River Wey and Godalming Navigations, one of the earliest canalised rivers in England, on a wharf behind Surrey County Cricket Ground in Guildford. Displays tell the story of the waterway and its boatmen, and electric boat trips leave from here.
Why it's here: Dogs on leads are welcome at the wharf and in the tea room, but not on boat trips or in the play area.
Photo: Cjc13, CC BY-SA 3.0Denbies Wine Estate
A large single-estate vineyard on the slopes of the North Downs outside Dorking, with a visitor centre, wine shop, restaurants and an art gallery. Visitors can take a guided cellar tasting or a vineyard train tour, or walk the 7 miles of public footpaths through the vines.
Why it's here: Dogs are allowed on the estate grounds but not inside the main building.
Questions people ask
Where can you take a dog for a walk in Surrey?
Box Hill near Tadworth welcomes well-controlled dogs, Chobham Common has heath with dogs kept on paths in spring and summer, and Newlands Corner near Albury welcomes dogs under close control.
Which Surrey places let dogs into the café?
Box Hill's café allows dogs on short leads, and Painshill's Tea Room in Cobham welcomes dogs on a short fixed lead. Claremont Landscape Garden in Esher allows dogs on short leads inside its café, and Winkworth Arboretum's café welcomes them all year.
Are there Surrey days out where dogs are not allowed?
Yes. Bocketts Farm Park near Leatherhead does not admit dogs to the farm park, Hobbledown in Epsom does not admit them apart from assistance dogs, and dogs are not allowed on the beaches at Frensham Great Pond.