This is St Ives on the Great Ouse in Cambridgeshire: a market-town and riverside break, rather than the Cornish seaside destination. Start with the old bridge and a short town stroll, then decide whether the longer Houghton Mill and Hemingfords circuit suits your dog. Two local hotels offer dog rooms, but both need the room allocation confirmed.
Policies researched 27 September 2026 · Check directly before booking
Dog-friendly places to stay in St Ives (Cambridgeshire)
Dog access can depend on the room or accommodation you choose. Confirm the exact dog arrangements before you pay.
The Golden Lion is on Market Hill and asks guests to telephone for dog rooms and select pet-friendly dining tables. The Dolphin on London Road lists a specific Standard Double Pet Friendly category. Confirm dog size, the complete charge and meal arrangements before comparing the rates.
London Road · St Ives
The Dolphin Hotel, St Ives
A London Road hotel with an explicitly named pet-friendly double category. Use that room choice as the starting point for the conversation rather than assuming every room in the hotel accepts dogs.
The dog details
The operator lists Standard Double Pet Friendly rooms. Ask it to confirm the current supplement, dog size/number limits and any deposit before paying; the research recorded differing operator and channel charges. Dining and unattended-dog rules remain unconfirmed.
Book directly with the property Book directly and confirm the dog room, total charge and meal arrangements before paying.
A Market Hill inn for a town-centre stay. Its booking instructions distinguish pet rooms from pet-friendly dining tables, helping you arrange both parts of the visit.
The dog details
Call directly for a dog room. The standard supplement is £15 per room per night for up to two dogs. Guest information specifies small dogs in some Classic rooms and excludes pets from the restaurant; the homepage offers pet-friendly tables. Confirm the allocated room, meal space and any package inclusions. Unattended-dog permission is not established.
Book directly with the property Book directly and confirm the dog room, total charge and meal arrangements before paying.
Choose a short town outing around the riverside and old bridge before considering the longer valley route. The National Trust’s walking directions identify this section within its wider circuit.
Keep your dog on lead for the sourced route and follow local signs. The bridge chapel, museum and other interiors are not included as dog-permitted visits.
The National Trust’s full route is 5 miles/8 km, starting at Houghton Mill and returning through the Hemingfords. It is a separate longer outing, with meadows and riverbank sections; bring the route directions and check conditions first.
Dogs should remain on leads on the grounds and throughout the walk. Use the marked paths, give livestock space and avoid flooded or closed sections. Parking at the stated start may be chargeable.
After settling the room, take a short riverside stroll and look at the old bridge. Keep the first outing modest so there is time to return for a meal in an agreed dog-permitted area. At The Golden Lion, request a pet-friendly table; at The Dolphin, ask about dining access before relying on the hotel restaurant.
Day two · decide on the full valley route
If 8 km suits your dog and conditions are good, plan the journey to the National Trust start at Houghton Mill and follow its circuit with the dog on lead. Allow more time than the headline walking estimate for pauses. Otherwise repeat a shorter town riverfront section and leave the full route for another day. Do not add the distance between your hotel and the official start without accounting for it.
A suggested plan, not a booked itinerary. Adapt it to your dog, the weather and current access.
THE DETAILS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Good to know before you go
Choose the right St Ives
Check that your booking is for St Ives in Cambridgeshire. The hotels here are by the Great Ouse, not Cornwall’s beaches.
Check the full distance
The published circuit begins at Houghton Mill, outside St Ives. Plan the start and return so extra connecting walks do not make the day too long.
Your St Ives (Cambridgeshire) questions
Which St Ives does this guide cover?
It covers St Ives in Cambridgeshire, on the River Great Ouse. It is not the Cornish seaside town of St Ives. Check the county and postcode when booking or planning travel; the Golden Lion is on Market Hill, PE27 5AL, and the Dolphin is on London Road, PE27 5EP.
Can my dog be off lead on the St Ives and Hemingfords circuit?
No. The National Trust says dogs should be kept on leads on its grounds and throughout the 5-mile (8 km) St Ives and Hemingfords walk. The published circuit starts at Houghton Mill, passes through St Ives and the Hemingfords, and returns to the mill. Follow current on-site signs as well as the route directions.
What is a shorter dog walk near St Ives if the full circuit is too long?
The National Trust publishes a separate 1.8-mile (2.88 km) Houghton Meadows circular walk from Houghton Mill. It is described as short and easy, with dogs suitable on leads. It offers a riverside and water-meadow outing without committing to the full 5-mile Hemingfords loop. The start is still outside St Ives, so include travel to Houghton in your plan.
Where does the 5-mile walk start, and do I need to reserve parking?
Start at Houghton Mill National Trust car park, Mill Lane, Houghton, PE28 2AZ; the route does not start at a St Ives hotel. The Trust lists pay-and-display parking, free for members, and says there is no need to book a parking space. A bus from St Ives regularly stops near Houghton Mill. Confirm current parking charges and service times before travelling.
How do the two St Ives hotels handle dog rooms and meals?
The Golden Lion asks guests to call for a dog room and lists £15 per room per night for up to two dogs. Its guest information specifies small dogs in some Classic rooms and excludes them from the restaurant, while its homepage offers pet-friendly tables: confirm the allocated meal space. The Dolphin’s Standard Double Pet Friendly rooms accept small dogs at £20 per night, with a possible refundable £100 deposit or pre-authorisation. Ask the Dolphin separately about dog access at meals.
Researched from accommodation operators, property listings and visitor information linked above on 27 September 2026. Prices and policies can change; a stated dog fee is not a room quote or a promise of availability. We have not personally inspected these places. Our day plans are editorial suggestions.
The dog details