Dog owners, this one is for you! Click on the links to get all the info you need for your visit, plus loads of pictures. Our Facebook page and website is hugely popular amongst the dog walking community for our strong focus on walks – spread the word! Do get in touch with any other gems you think we should know about! Woof.
Queensford lake and the Wandering Kitchen
Walking into the Wandering Kitchen is sometimes like walking into Crufts as so many people team a visit here with a dog for walk around Queensford lake. Last time we went we spent more time cooing over and patting the cutest of dogs than we did talking to each other! The 2.5k walking loop around the lake has a permanent children’s trail ‘Wanda’s Quest’, so is popular with families too. Do wear wellies in the winter as it can get muddy. The café itself has views over the water and the food is delicious too – pancakes with bacon and maple syrup for the win – plus they often have a cosy fire lit when it’s cold. Hygge central.
Pinsely Wood
It will come as no surprise that this walk was recommended to us by a dog walker friend. And it’s abundantly clear why: these beautiful, towering woods have a 2.2k flat circular route, no livestock lurking and open expanses that are calling out for a run around! We have seen lots of dogs off the lead here bounding around and socialising, but each owner will know their dog best. File this for a bluebell frenzy come April/May.
Shotover Park *NOT to be confused with Shotover Country Park*
A whole part of Shotover that seems relatively unknown. And with far reaching countryside views we cannot for the life of us work out why! OK the doggies won’t really appreciate the views but I’m sure that you will. We never see more than three people each time we go here but those that we do see have dogs. The main, wide avenue would be super for a pushchair walk or a scoot too, but go much further and you have to navigate mixed terrain before you get to a flat path. There’s the option to do a loop or just re-trace your steps. Just a side note: this walk does have livestock behind electric fences.
Waterperry – Waterstock walk
Short, joyful and passing the thatched cottage of dreams with a cottage garden that will make you want to dive right in! Again, not for the dogs but surely you get to have some fun too! A lot of dogs travelling up and down this well trod footpath – some will stop at the watermill and some will return to Waterperry. As this walk is by the place untouched by time, aka Waterperry Gardens, it would be rude not to pop into the tearoom where dogs are very welcome.
Hinksey Heights Nature Trail
We’ve stopped for many a pooch pat on this walking hotspot and every dog we meet seems to have gone for a splash in the river too! Lots of different terrain to explore; follow the map for the circular trail or go off-piste. This is the home of the boardwalk of dreams too, should you be partial! The 19th Hole café at the golf club, to the left of the entrance to the nature trail, welcomes dogs.
Basildon Park National Trust
OK, not in Oxfordshire but this gets an honourable mention! We are big fans of Basildon Park for the Wild Play Trail and ball-runs but what we didn’t realise is that it’s such a big draw for dog owners too! The National Trust has a pawprint rated system so that owners can plan ahead for four-legged friends too, and Basildon Park has a pawprint rating of two which means that dogs are welcome. They have water bowls out, dog bins and dog-friendly walks; the tearoom even has a special place for pooches to park themselves inside and you are allowed to bring them into the shop too. There are four parkland walks, varying from short to a bit longer, that are ideal for dogs and can be accessed all year round. They must be kept on a lead at all times due to livestock grazing, but these areas are clearly signed before you enter. Read more about dog-friendly National Trust properties and land in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxford here.
