Take man’s best friend with you on your Cotswold outings.
From animal attractions and pretty parklands, to amazing mazes and steam train adventures, discover 18 dog-friendly Cotswold destinations that are sure to get tails wagging!
While it’s often required that dogs remain on the lead, these attractions are perfect for an enjoyable day trip, family outing, or simply soaking up the beautiful Cotswold countryside – which both two and four-legged visitors are sure to enjoy!
Meanwhile, if you’re looking to make a day or holiday of it, don’t miss SoGlos’s round up of dog-friendly Cotswold pubs, and the county's pet-friendly hotels.
Introduce your four-legged friend to a host of other friendly animals at Burford’s Cotswold Wildlife Park, with dogs welcomed into the park. With plenty of spacious lawns to roam, it’s the perfect way to keep your pet happy and enjoy a fun-filled day out.
The gorgeous Rococo Garden is perfect for a picturesque dog walk complete with amazing architecture, woodlands, and towering trees. Meanwhile, there’s a water bowl at the coach house, and doggy snacks in the café to make sure four-legged pals are happy.
Wander around Batsford Arboretum’s incredible natural collections with your dog in tow, with 56 acres of stunning parklands to explore. What’s more, well-behaved pooches are also allowed in the main building and on-site café.
Everyone’s welcome to hop aboard the train at Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, with dogs allowed to travel free in the standard class carriages – as long as they’re not on the seats or tables, or near buffet cars!
One of the country’s most spectacular tree gardens, Westonbirt Arboretum promises hours of exploring fun, with dogs free to roam the Silk Wood, where there are seasonal trails to keep walkers entertained.
Perfect for a family day out, Cotswold Motoring Museum opens its doors to two and four-legged visitors who can venture on a journey through motoring history. Meanwhile, the pretty surroundings of Bourton-on-the-Water are also perfect for dog walks.
Whether you want to discover Hailes Abbey’s fascinating history or soak up the serene Cotswold setting, take your dog along for your visit and they can enjoy some exploring fun too.
A favourite animal attraction in Bourton-on-the-Water, Birdland Park and Gardens allows dogs to join in the family fun, and even provides water bowls by the café to avoid any animals going thirsty.
A National Trust area, Woodchester Park is a beautiful secluded woodland valley just waiting to be discovered, with dogs able to stretch their legs on a scenic walk through the area, and a number of picturesque routes to choose from.
Test your dog’s sense of direction on an adventure at Elton Maize Maze in the Forest of Dean, with four-legged pals allowed in the maze and the courtyard, so you don’t have to leave them behind on your day out!
Open during the summer months, Cotswold Lavender offers the chance to wander around its stunning and scented purple-hued fields, with dogs welcome into the popular visitor attraction, while there’s outdoor seating and water bowls too.
A National Trust site in Wotton-under-Edge, Newark Park welcomes dogs in the gardens and the estate, with plenty of pretty parklands to explore and make sure man’s best friends get some good exercise.
Offering a fine example of a Jacobean manor house and home to a beautiful water garden with specimen trees, terraced lawns and herbaceous borders, Stanway House promises a delightful visit, with dogs welcomed along too.
Go on an adventure with every member of the family in tow, enjoying a day out at fun-filled family destination, Go Ape. And if you’re heading for the high ropes course in the Forest of Dean, dogs are allowed to tag along and witness you scale the dizzying heights.
Home to lovely footpaths and bridle paths, dogs are welcome for a scenic walk through the surroundings of Cotswold Water Park, with plenty of picnic spots along the way for a well-deserved rest.
Head to Bourton-on-the-Water for an enjoyable visit to The Dragonfly Maze, weaving through the yew hedge pathways with your furry friend, while big and little kids can have fun solving the riddle to reveal the hidden Golden Dragonfly.
While dogs might not be able climb up Broadway Tower, the Cotswolds’ highest castle, the surrounding countryside is a haven for outdoor exploring, with an expanse of open space, several routes, and breathtaking views to boot.
A romantic and secluded garden in the heart of the Cotswolds, Cerney Gardens offers a slice of rural heaven for visitors and their doggy pals, with a gazebo walk, woodlands, a knot garden, vegetable garden, and much more to discover.
By Kathryn Godfrey
© SoGlos
Thursday 24 August 2017
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