Dog-friendly walks in Croft on Tees

A short circuit from the south end of Croft Bridge that takes in the whole of the village: down the A167 past St Peter's Church, out along Richmond Road, back on the field path towards Spa Bank where the old spa wells were, and home along South Parade beside the Tees. There is no seasonal dog ban anywhere here, because North Yorkshire Council's seasonal dog control measures cover only parts of Scarborough, Filey and Whitby. What does apply is the fouling offence: fail to pick up on land the public have access to and it is a £50 fixed penalty in the Richmondshire area, up to £1,000 on conviction. The A167 stretch by the bridge carries fast traffic on a narrow pavement, so this is a lead-on start whatever your dog is like.

West from Croft Bridge along South Parade, then out onto the Croft and Clow Beck floodbank, a raised embankment path that follows the south side of the Tees towards Stapleton. It is flat, green underfoot and open, with the river on one side and grazing land on the other, and it makes an easy out-and-back of just under three miles there and back. There is no seasonal restriction and no lead requirement on this stretch, but the fouling law applies as everywhere: £50 fixed penalty in the Richmondshire area, up to £1,000 if it goes to court. The bank floods in winter and the grass stays wet long after rain, so this is a wellingtons walk from November onwards.