Top 10 Gloucestershire dog walks

A brilliant hill walk in Cheltenham with spectacular views over the county to the Brecon Beacons. Starting at the bottom of the hill, this walk can be pretty steep, but the views are completely worth it. The area is also rich in history, so make sure you find the remains of limekilns, relics of the industrial age, and the mysterious ‘Devil’s Chimney’ before you reach the summit.

Easily one of the most popular dog walking areas in Gloucestershire, with great views, woodland and a cafe at the end. Crickley Hill has a few different trails you can discover, making sure you can vary your walk whenever you go. There are cows in some fields, but these fields are clearly marked and fenced.

A childhood favourite of ours, this is another hill walk in the heart of Gloucester. A great walk for families and pups, with a variety of open meadows and woodlands, as well as a quarry which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). There is a café and a play area too, and a number of picnic sites across the hill and at the foot of the hill.

The Forest of Dean is a beautiful dense woodland, filled with bluebells in spring and lush green in the summer. One of the most deservedly popular walks is the Sculpture Trail, which can easily take most of the day. The highlight being the 15ft stained glass window suspended from the tree canopy enabling visitors to walk underneath. The walk has toilets, cafe, parking and picnic areas.

A large common in Stroud with absolutely stunning views across Gloucestershire. It’s probably one of the most beautiful commons we’ve visited and it even has it’s own fort! Although its’s a popular spot, it’s quite a large area so it doesn’t feel too crowded. There are a few benches to sit on and a pool for dogs to splash around in.

Cheltenham Racecourse is a brilliant dog walk around the vast fields and open green spaces that surround the famous racecourse. Bella loved running around here with her cousin Brucie in the summer as there are meadows to bounce through and a brook to splash in. It’s also quite a sociable walk and you will definitely meet other doggies here!

A tranquil secluded wooded valley looked after by The National Trust with three waymarked walks ranging from 2-7 miles. Some areas dogs are required to be kept on a short lead but other areas they can be let off. The wooded valley contains a ‘lost landscape’ with remains of an 18th- and 19th-century landscape park with a chain of three lakes. Discover the 19th-century boathouse, disused quarry and manor house that sits just on the outskirts of the National Trust woodland.

At the edge of Gloucestershire, is one of our favourite walks – Westonbirt Arboretum, you do have to pay to get in, but we think it’s definitely worth it. Dogs can happily run off lead in the Silk Woods and Lower Downs, whilst you wander through the spectacular selection of well-kept trees, before stopping off at the cafe whilst your pup tucks into some doggy ice cream. Our favourite time to visit is Autumn with the stunning changing colours of the maple trees.

Painswick Rococo Garden is a beautifully landscaped garden in the Cotswolds, where you could easily spend a few hours wandering around the grounds before grabbing lunch at the dog friendly cafe. You need to pay to get in, but you can save with annual membership and it’s such a lovely place to explore that we didn’t mind paying for the day.

One of the best family and dog friendly parks in Gloucestershire. For kids, there are multiple play areas, aviaries and a small menagerie of small animals, including chipmunks, rabbits and Guinea pigs! For dogs, meander around the boating lake, explore the many paths and fields before stopping off at The Boathouse Café and buying a doggy ice cream.