Baggy Point with Dogs: What to Check Before the Walk
A practical dog-owner check before a Baggy Point walk, from current lead guidance to the exposed cliff path.
Before you go
Are dogs allowed at Baggy Point?
Yes. The National Trust welcomes dogs at Baggy Point, but this is not an off-lead exercise guarantee. It is an exposed coastal headland with narrow sections beside steep cliffs, and the surrounding fields may contain livestock. Start by checking the National Trust's current visitor information and any notices at the car park or on the route. Those notices take priority if conditions, access or dog controls have changed.
For a straightforward overview of the outing itself, see our Baggy Point walk guide. This page is for the dog-specific decisions: whether your dog can stay close on a lead, how you will handle the clifftop, and whether the day’s weather makes the walk sensible.
Control matters here
Plan on using a lead
For the National Trust’s Baggy Point circular walk via Middleborough Hill, dogs are welcome on leads. Its route notes specifically ask walkers to keep dogs on a lead because the path is close to the cliff top and livestock may be in nearby fields. The Trust also asks visitors to use a short lead around sheep and to carry one for livestock, wildlife or when signs ask for it.
That makes Baggy Point a better fit for a dog that is happy to walk beside you than for one expecting a long, unrestricted run. Keep your dog close enough not to approach other walkers, and use the current signs rather than assuming a rule from a previous visit. In bird-nesting and busy summer periods, the Trust asks for dogs to be on leads on the narrow coast path.
Choose the right walk
Keep the route realistic for your dog
Baggy Point is a headland walk rather than a flat beach loop. The National Trust describes its Middleborough Hill circuit as moderate, undulating and 2.6 miles (4.16km), with a short downhill section that can be slippery when wet. It starts at Baggy Point car park on Moor Lane, Croyde, EX33 1PA. That gives you a useful official route to assess, but it does not mean every dog will enjoy every condition.
On a wet or windy day, consider turning back early or choosing a more sheltered plan. Keep to the signed path and do not take a dog towards cliff edges for a better view. The Trust describes the edges as steep, potentially unstable and dangerous. If you want another local headland option, compare the preparation needed for the Morte Point walk rather than treating the two walks as interchangeable.
Bring water for your dog as you would on any coastal walk. The Trust says there are water bowls at the welcome hut in the car park and in the garden, plus bins along the path, but amenities can change, so they are a helpful extra rather than the only plan.
Arrival and conditions
Check the official page on the day
The National Trust lists a car park, toilets and Sandleigh tea-room at Baggy Point, but opening times and access arrangements are date-sensitive. Its visitor page also warns that the approach is single track and does not recommend vehicles over six metres. Check the current visitor page before setting off, especially if you are travelling with a larger vehicle or need a particular facility.
Look again for temporary notices when you arrive. They are the best source for a diversion, closure, seasonal control, livestock instruction or weather warning that affects that day’s walk. If the wind makes your dog unsettled, the ground is slippery, or the route does not feel right for both of you, there is no need to press on. A shorter, calmer outing is the better call.
Quick dog-walk checklist
What to bring and decide first
Lead and recall
Take a lead and be ready to use it around livestock, wildlife, narrow paths and whenever a sign asks. Keep your dog within sight and avoid letting them run up to other visitors.
Weather and footing
Check the forecast and be honest about wind, rain and slippery ground. Choose footwear with grip for yourself and shorten the outing if the exposed path feels uncomfortable.
Waste and water
Bring poo bags and water. Use bins where available, but take waste home if a bin is full or you cannot find one.
For more ideas once you have picked a suitable day, browse walks around Woolacombe with dogs or our wider North Devon dog walks guide. If you are combining the walk with the coast, read beach safety advice too. Beach dog restrictions are separate from Baggy Point route guidance, so always check the signs where you park and walk.
Checked 14 July 2026
Sources used
- National Trust: visiting Baggy Point with your dog for dog controls, leads in nesting and busy periods, water bowls, bins and the need to check notices.
- National Trust: Baggy Point circular walk via Middleborough Hill for the official route’s distance, terrain, start point, lead guidance and cliff warning.
- National Trust: Baggy Point visitor information for facilities, access and current visitor planning.