Dogs Ring of Steal

[Lmitch]

Hi
Just wondering about taking my dog with me on the Ring of Steal. Anyone taken theirs? She's a pretty good scrambler in the Lakes.

Cheers

[PerthAlly]

The Ring of Steall is a canny hike. Took me 8 hours.

There are precious few escape routes. Plus there's little fresh water to be found.

Personally I wouldn't take a dog. But then again, others do

Enjoy. It's a cracking walk

[Sunset tripper]

Can your dog tightrope walk? The river may not be easy to wade across or swim across for the dog. Folk do let their dogs swim the river depending on conditions and take their dogs round the ridges. For me it would be too stressful but I suppose it depends how much faith and trust you have in your dogs abilities. All the best

The Steall Bridge across the Nevis.

[madprof]

Can your dog tightrope walk? The river may not be easy to wade across or swim across for the dog. Folk do let their dogs swim the river depending on conditions and take their dogs round the ridges. For me it would be too stressful but I suppose it depends how much faith and trust you have in your dogs abilities. All the best

This is why you balance the dog on your head, or hold it in your arms and do a tight-rope walk across. Simples.

[Border Reiver]

It depends on the type of dog I guess, but, if you do take her, keep an eye on the state of her paws, there are some pretty sharp stones in places. I've seen bad dog owners dragging limping and bleeding dogs around some walks & in one case I had to do a bit of first aid on a retriever with a cut foot on Scafell. As others have said, once you leave Steall waterfall, there's no water en-route and a drop of a few hundred feet would be needed to get to a spring.

[KatTai]

Can your dog tightrope walk? The river may not be easy to wade across or swim across for the dog. Folk do let their dogs swim the river depending on conditions and take their dogs round the ridges. For me it would be too stressful but I suppose it depends how much faith and trust you have in your dogs abilities. All the best

The Steall Bridge across the Nevis.

P1010221 (640x480).jpg

I'd let my dogs swim it, they'd just have to swim back though because no way would I be going across that wire bridge!

I don't think mine would have/have had a problem with the walk itself, but the lack of water for such a long stretch would make it a no for me personally. Running out of water would not be good, plus current hill walking dog loves nothing more than a lie down and splash about in whatever water she can find!

[gary]

Hi, I took my border collie around the ring of steall, she is very comfortable scrambling, not keen swimming but managed across the river no problem, it wasn't that bad when we did it. We took plenty water with us but weather was not great so it wasn't a big problem that day.
My friend left his lab at home that day as he didn't feel comfortable with him scrambling, although it does love swimming.....

[Lmitch]

Thanks everyone. That's all helpful > I knew about the swimming start but I would worry about her paws and the lack of water. She can enjoy a day's rest in a local kennel!

[Walkinmyfootsteps]

My lab retriever is more sure footed and fitter than any of us mere humans.
Paw damage is probably the biggest concern on areas of scree.
I've had the dog up summits in Skye and Snowdonia, they love it.
Depends on your dog I suppose and how active it is normally.
As for the swim it would be harder to keep her out the water!