Best Dog Walks in Berkshire

Located near the villages of Purley-on-Thames, Sulham, Tilehurst and Tidmarsh, Sulham Woods lies within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This Site of Special Scientific Interest covers more than 70 hectares and comprises a wonderful mixture of open countryside and woodland.

Although most of the wooded areas have been neatly pathed, it’s easy for you and your dog to go off-piste and create your own exciting adventures. In fact, with so many twists and turns en route, you’ll find it’s nigh on impossible to repeat the same walk twice. This sense of variety is one of the main reasons dog walkers keep returning to the area time and again.

Another great reason to visit Sulham Woods is the thrilling year-round display of flora and fauna. Highlights include more than 300 species of moth, sprawling carpets of bluebells in spring, and wonderful wildflowers in summer. Finally, don’t miss the great photo opportunity for you and your pooch in front of Wilder’s Folly, which is a towering folly and dovecote.

There are few more distinguished destinations for a dog walk. Rich in history, this vast park comprises 4,800 acres of open grassland, ancient forests, famous monuments, rare wildlife and amazing horticultural displays. What’s more, it’s been the home of the British Monarchy since William the Conqueror arrived in 1066.

The Bailiwick pub sits right by one of the entrances to Windsor Great Park and is the perfect dog-friendly place to start or finish your walk. Offering dog treats and water bowls, the pub even runs an Instagram page featuring fun snaps of its favourite doggie visitors.

Welcoming nearly five million visitors every year, Windsor Great Park has so much for you and your dog to see and do. But it’s important to keep them under control at all times and in some areas, which are signposted, they must be kept on leads. There’s plenty more practical information about dog walking at Windsor Great Park here, including where you need to keep them on a lead and where you can find refreshments on site.

Bracknell isn’t known for its beauty, but this little gem – not far from the centre of town – is a delightful spot for a walk with your dog. Originally a ‘gentleman's residence’ built in the early 1850s, Lily Hill House’s 56 acres of parkland, woodland and formal gardens were restored by the Heritage Lottery Fund just over 10 years ago.

As you wander the park’s network of footpaths, you’ll see species-rich grassland, a Green Man sculpture, an Edwardian water garden, a collection of hardy hybrid Rhododendrons, and woodland featuring exotic pines, beech trees and oaks. You can also pause for breath or a bite to eat at England’s longest picnic bench, which has been carved from a single piece of wood.

A popular meeting place for dog walkers, the park held its first Pug Picnic in 2017. Featuring plenty of activities and an agility course, the event raised funds for The French and Pug Dog Foundation and Pug Dog Welfare Rescue Association.