Walking with a dog gives you a whole new perspective on your surroundings. There’s so much to sniff, birds that catch your attention, and new people to meet! In fact, we’d go so far as to say that getting out and about to explore with your four-legged friend is one of the greatest joys of dog ownership. But, what do you do when you want to switch up your regular walk for something new, or want to take your dog somewhere you’re not sure can accommodate a canine companion? These are some of our favourite dog-friendly spots to visit in The Midlands.
Clumber Park – Nottinghamshire
Image courtesy of Rich Kenington
Clumber Park in North Nottinghamshire is perhaps one of the most dog-friendly places to go for a walk in the area. There’s outdoor seating at the café with dog bowls so your pooch can have a drink as well as you. There’s even designated indoor area where you can enjoy post-walk refreshments while your dog relaxes in the dog beds provided.
As the park is home to a lot of wildlife including cattle and deer, you should keep your dog on a lead, and clean up after it while walking in the park. Extended leads are fine, it’s just important they don’t bother the residents!
You’ll find plenty of walks and trails mapped out at Clumber. We love this dog friendly, livestock free walk that takes you up to nearby Thoresby Hall. It starts and finishes at the Visitor’s centre, so you can fuel up at the café before you head out, and refuel when you get back!
As a National Trust property, there is a small admission charge of £4 per adult and £2 per child to visit Clumber Park.
The dog-friendly Longshaw and Eastern Moors – Derbyshire
Image courtesy of Mike Bean
What more could you want in a walk than the miles upon miles of greenery in the Peak District? The Eastern Moors make up 14 square miles of the national park, just on the edge of Sheffield. There are a number of pay and display car parks at different spots around the moors, and various trails you can pick up for a stroll with your four-legged friend.
If you’re in need of refreshment, the tea room at Longshaw has a dog-friendly outdoor area, although dogs aren’t allowed indoors. Dogs are also welcome at the Robin Hood Inn, situated by the car park at Birchen Edge. The latter in particular is a great base for your day on the moors, with a number of walks starting and finishing there.
The moors are home to a number of species of ground nesting birds including curlew, snipe and skylark among others. Nesting on the ground leaves their eggs and chicks vulnerable to disturbances, so it’s important to keep dogs well under control and on a short leash while walking in this area. In fact, as there are also sheep and cattle roaming the moors, it’s the law to keep your dog on a lead while walking around here.
Related: Homemade treats you can make for your pets
Belton House, Lincolnshire
Image courtesy of Martin Pettitt
With over 1,300 acres of parkland to explore, Belton in Lincolnshire is a fantastic place to go walking with your dog. There’s woodland, hills and streams to explore, making it ideal for walkers and dogs of all shapes and sizes. Dedicated dog bins throughout the park to make it easy for you to clean up after your dog and dispose of the mess. Plus, water bowls are available in the stableyard.
Belton doesn’t allow dogs in the formal gardens and adventure playground, with the exception of assistance dogs, but the courtyard areas are dog-friendly, as long as canine companions are kept on a lead and behave themselves.
Belton is a little pricier to visit than some of the other locations on this list, with a visit to the grounds costing £12 per adult and £8.20 per child.
The Brockhampton Estate, Herefordshire
Image courtesy of David Evans
Located in the West Midlands, the Brockhampton estate dates back to the 14th century. The house and estate have changed very little over the hundreds of years. The miles upon miles of surrounding parkland make the estate a perfect place to bring your pooch. And, the Granary café has an outdoor courtyard that’s dog-friendly.
Like most places, the estate requires that you keep your dog on a lead while walking. The parkland is home to all kinds of wildlife, and there are a number of farms on the estate with cattle who may be spooked by an energetic dog.
You can easily spend a day at Brockhampton. There are six marked walking routes of various lengths that are all dog-friendly. You can also visit the medieval manor house, of which parts were still lived in until 2014. However, you’ll have to leave your dog at one of the tethering posts outside the hall if you want to peek inside.
Dog walking at Kinver Edge and Rock Houses – Staffordshire
Image courtesy of Mark Peate
The woods and heath at Kinver Edge are an excellent place to take your dog for a good, long walk. There are miles of open countryside to explore, and year-round free access! You can choose to walk one of the three marked trails, or go your own way.
At Kinver Edge, you may come across cattle grazing. Be sure to keep your dog on its lead while in these enclosures. There’s plenty of space further away from the cows where you can let your furry friend loose and allow them to stretch their legs, though.
The Rock Houses, carved into the caves, are dog-friendly, too. Dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens. If you visit the tea room or the caves, though, you will need to leave your dog outside.
Lyveden, Northamptonshire
Image courtesy of Steve P2008
Lyveden has an interesting story that makes it worth visiting with or without a dog. The unfinished building is thought to have been intended as a “secret house” for Sir Thomas Tresham. Tresham owned the Lyveden estate in the early 17th century. When he died in 1605, building work on the house stopped. Despite being inherited by his descendants, one of whom was involved in the Gunpowder plot, the house was never finished. Today, it looks exactly as as it did in 1605.
You can pick up a free walking guide from the visitor centre when you arrive at Lyveden. Staff are happy to help you navigate to the best spots to explore with a four-legged companion. You can buy dog treats and baggies from reception, too, to help you clean up after your pet and reward them for being well-behaved!
Lyveden is dog-friendly throughout the estate, with the exception of the Cottage Tea room. As livestock frequently graze on the estate, you should keep your furry friend on a lead.
