Dog-Friendly Easingwold and the Howardian Hills: What Every York Dog Owner Should Know

Head north out of York for about twenty-five minutes and you reach Easingwold, a handsome Georgian market town that makes a perfect base for a dog walking day. It sits between the North York Moors and the Howardian Hills, so you have a proper little town for coffee and a mooch, then some of the loveliest gentle countryside in North Yorkshire on the doorstep. Here is what every York dog owner should know before setting off.

Starting in the town

Easingwold is built around a pretty, cobbled Georgian market place, with 18th-century houses, independent shops and a good scattering of cafes and pubs. Several are dog-friendly, so it is an easy town to potter round on the lead, grab a coffee and let your dog say hello to half the town. It has been a market town since the days of King Charles I, and it still has that busy, friendly feel without being overwhelming for a nervous or younger dog.

Because it is compact and mostly on the flat, Easingwold also suits older dogs and puppies who are not quite up to a big hill walk yet.

Into the Howardian Hills

Just to the east and south of the town, the Howardian Hills National Landscape (long known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) rolls away in a patchwork of woods, ridges and quiet valleys. It is Jurassic limestone country, so the walking is undulating rather than dramatic, which is exactly what makes it so kind on a dog's legs. Well-wooded lanes, field paths and gentle climbs give you variety without wearing anyone out.

There is a network of way-marked routes across the area, and you can make a circular walk from Easingwold that takes in neighbouring villages. Popular loops link up Coxwold, with its notable old pub and Shandy Hall (where Laurence Sterne wrote Tristram Shandy), the historic grounds of Newburgh Priory, Oulston Reservoir and the pretty village of Crayke on its little hill.

Groomer's tip: limestone-country walks mean woodland, long grass and hedgerows, which in late summer is grass-seed season. After a walk here, run your fingers through the fur between the toes and check inside the ears, as seeds work in fast and can cause real trouble if missed.

The livestock question

This is farming country, and it shows. Almost every walk here crosses grazed fields, so you should expect sheep and cattle on most routes. The sensible rule is simple: keep your dog on a lead whenever livestock is around, and steer well clear of cattle, especially cows with calves. Where a walk is clearly stock-free and your dog has dependable recall, you can relax and let them stretch out, but a lead or long line near fields is never the wrong call.

Planning a good day

• Check the route first. Many circular walks link several villages, so know your distance before you start and pick a shorter loop if the dog is young or older.
• Bring your own water. There is little reliable water on the higher field paths, so carry enough for both of you.
• Mind the gates and stiles. Some routes have stiles that larger dogs find awkward, so a route with kissing gates may suit better.
• Cafe stops. Time your loop to finish back in Easingwold or Coxwold for a well-earned rest at a dog-friendly pub.

Frequently asked questions

Is Easingwold dog-friendly? Very. It is a compact Georgian market town with dog-friendly cafes and pubs, level pavements for gentle strolls, and easy access to the surrounding countryside.

How far is Easingwold from York? It is roughly a 25-minute drive north of York, which makes it an easy half-day or full-day out with the dog.

Can you walk from Easingwold to Coxwold and Newburgh Priory? Yes, there are circular walking routes that link Easingwold with Coxwold, Newburgh Priory, Oulston Reservoir and Crayke, but they cross grazed farmland, so keep your dog on a lead around livestock.

Are the Howardian Hills good for dogs? Yes. The gentle, well-wooded limestone hills give varied, undulating walks that are kind on a dog's joints, though most routes cross grazing land so lead control matters.

Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. If your dog has come home from the Howardian Hills full of grass seeds and mud, we will get every last bit out for you. Book your dog in with Fluffs today.