Quiet walks for nervous or reactive dogs in Bristol

Although a popular walking spot, Overscourt Wood is so large that you often won’t bump into other dogs. There are lots of large open fields, so if you do spot another dog, you should be able to avoid them. Best to go in the weekday or early in the morning.

With over 190 hectares (480 acres), this woodland, although popular, is really good for dogs that want a bit of peace and quiet, you can be there for hours and only see one other person. There are so many routes to explore that it’s great to visit any time of the year.

Easily one of the most stunning walks in Bristol, this little gem of a walk still seems quite unknown, we only ever see a couple of other dogs each time we walk here (even in summer). We’ve even seen people puppy training in the middle of one field as there are so little distractions or other dogs around.

More of a wild woodland with well-trodden paths than an immaculately kept one, Bourton Combe is a hidden, peaceful, shady woodland with a great circular walk. We occasionally see mountain bikers here and only about one other dog and owner.

A surprisingly quiet walk in an intriguing place between River Severn and The Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. The site contains historic boat wrecks that were beached there throughout the 20th century. We think it’s strange that more people don’t visit as the shipwrecks are fascinating!

We’ve almost never seen anyone else whilst we’ve been walking here. It’s so quiet (and quite windy!), and best enjoyed on a sunny day as the fields and river have such intense, vibrant colour when the sun is beaming down. Just be aware that cows graze in the summer months.

A beautiful woodland walk with multiple circular routes, and yet another woodland that isn’t as busy as you would expect it to be. Great for dogs that love to sniff around the woods, find sticks and run around at their own pace.

This can sometimes be a tourist spot, but the area is so large that it’s easy to avoid other dogs if you need to. There are pockets of woodland at the base of the hill, so that’s the most likely place you will bump into dogs, but when we have been it’s few and far between.

One of our favourite woodland walks, even if the small car park is almost full, it’s surprising that we don’t see more people and dogs. We usually take the main circular route around and only bump into one or two others on the way. Just be aware that horses use the bridleway.

One of our favourite walks in Bristol, a hidden gem, rich in history and looked after very well by volunteers and The Woodland Trust. Most of the time we never cross paths with anyone else except near the old garden ruins of the arboretum. Next to it is Bennett’s Patch & White’s Paddock Nature Reserve, another great area that is never busy.

We absolutely love this walk, it’s perfect for a summer evening where we walk a circular route for about half an hour. It’s one of the prettiest woodland walks we know and very quiet, with the only noise coming from the trickling stream.

A large hillside woodland in which you could easily extend your walk for hours more if exploring nearby Black Down (impressive views), Burrington Combe and Dolebury Warren (with an Iron Age Hill Fort). We do see other dogs here, but usually only about 1/2 dogs per walk. Be careful of horse riders and mountain bikers (both are very considerate though).

A magical woodland a short drive out of Bristol in the middle of the countryside (perhaps that’s why we don’t see many other dogs around!). We’ve only ever come across one or two dogs near the entrance. There are lots of little paths around but be sure to stop by the river, old Keepers Cottage, and waterfall!

One sunny summer’s day we walked up to the top of Cadbury Camp and didn’t see a single person until we got to the top! Even at the top, the area is so big that it’s really easy to avoid anyone if needed. However, the ascending path we took was quite narrow, so if you meet a dog on the way it might be hard to sidestep them. Just be cautious as there can be cattle and sheep grazing.

One of our favourite walks in Bristol, which may sound odd considering it borders the airport, but the common is so diverse with wildflowers, fern forests and bluebells throughout the year, therefore always having a seasonal interest. Whenever we go, there are only a handful of dogs there, but the common is so large we very rarely go near them.

It may not sound like the most obvious place for dog walking, but despite how busy Croome is, the best part of this walk is that all the dogs need to be on a lead except in one field. So it’s a great walk as you can enjoy the grounds, but feel assured that no other dogs will come bounding across the field to you.

4 acres of green grass with 6ft deer fencing surrounding the perimeter. They are an exclusive access field designed for walking or training of dogs in an uninterrupted, secure and quiet environment, so you are able to bond with your dog without any distractions.

A secure dog field in Bristol, that offers a safe haven for owners of dogs with aggression, nervousness, blind/deaf or in training to enjoy a calm, peaceful and secure walk. The park covers an acre, and has fences approximately 7.5ft high and 1ft underground.