UK Dog Walking Guide: The Best Of The Rest of the South West

Here at The Pets Larder news, we have often spoken about the plethora of wonderful walks there are available in Cornwall for you and your dogs. We have also noticed that many of our wonderful customers, especially the new ones, hail from all over the UK. And as such we thought we would start a new series of posts, highlighting some of the best dog walks that can be found around every corner of our green and pleasant land and not just in our favourite county!

Today we will be looking at the best of the rest of the South West and highlighting our favourite walks in Devon, Bristol, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Dorset and Wiltshire. 

As I’m sure you’ll assume, we know Cornwall better than anywhere and our recommendations may not align with what you think if you’re local to these particular areas, but do let us know if you know better as we’d love to hear about your, and your dog's, favourite walks in the superb surroundings of the South West.

Devon

Just over the border from our home county is delightful Devon. The Devonians may not know how to properly make a cream tea but they do have some spectacular scenery that can be enjoyed by you and your canine companions. One of our favourite places to walk our dogs in this delightful county is at the beautiful Bolberry Down. This stunning stretch of the coast is just a short drive from Salcombe and is the perfect place to take a leisurely stroll on a sunny afternoon. This area offers walks that are littered with interesting sights and stunning scenes, from Iron-Age forts to hidden coves and spectacular stretches of the coastline. 

Find Out More About The Wondrous Bolberry Down Here>

Bristol

One of the most popular outdoor spaces in Bristol is the fabulous Ashton Court Estate. The 850 acres of woodlands, pools and countryside, is the perfect way to escape the city with your dogs for a few hours and soak up the glories that Mother Nature has bestowed on this well-managed estate. Ashton Court also boasts two cafes that are both dog-friendly and act as the perfect refuelling point during your romp around one of Bristol’s most beautiful outdoor treats.

Somerset

Somerset has so many great outdoor landmarks it’s hard to choose just the one, but we’ve gone with the legendary Glastonbury Tor. Steeped in history and myth, this prominent hill has been an attraction since the time of the Celts and is topped by the glorious, Grade I listed, St Micheal’s Tower, which was built in the 14th Century. This naturally formed Tor is the perfect place to give your dogs, and yourself, a challenging walk with some amazing views as a treat at the halfway point. If you do visit this impressive landmark when the weather isn’t so good we would recommend shoes with a good amount of grip as the paths can be steep and slippery when wet. 

Gloucestershire

This fabulous forest has been enjoyed by people since the middle ages and is one of the jewels in Britains nature crown. Framed by the rivers Wye and Severn The Forest of Dean has some of the best scenery in the country and has to be seen to be believed. Today the forest is managed by Forestry England who maintains this spectacular site’s wild woodland feel and has allowed nature to thrive here once again, after years of historical industry in the area. Packed with wonderful walks and exciting places to explore, The Forest of Dean is a fantastic place to spend some quality time with your dogs. 

Dorset

If you and your dogs like a woodland with a waterfall, then look no further than Yeovil Country Park. Take a gentle riverside walk following the course of the River Yeo and take in the gorgeous waterways, meadows and wondrous woodlands, whilst your canine companion follows their nose on their next great exploration. Just a short drive from Yeovil Town Centre Yeovil Country Park is also furnished with some great facilities including a play area, for little ones, and a lovely cafe, perfect for a mid-walk latte. 

Wiltshire

I’m ashamed to say that I have never been to Wiltshire, however, I have passed through on the train more times than I can think of. When I was little the most exciting part of this journey was seeing the famous Westbury White Horse, a 55M tall, chalk horse that is carved into the side of a hill on the well known Salisbury Plain. This area is the perfect place to take your dogs for a walk as it has a mixture of terrains as well as beautiful views and a big old slice of British history. 

So if you’re in the South West of our incomparable island anytime this year, why not stop off at one of these wondrous walking locations and give you and your dogs a real treat. For info on our favourite walks in Cornwall, have a look at This>