7 of the Best Dog Walks in Bristol You’ll Both Love
If you’re looking for some of the best dog walks in Bristol (and near Bristol) then let us share with you these ten walks that both we (and our Rough Collie, Kai) love. We hope you and your canine pal will love them too!
7 of the Best Dog Walks in Bristol
1. Oldbury Court Estate & Snuff Mills
Oldbury Court Estate in Fishponds is our favourite place to walk our dog in Bristol as there are lots of different types of walks available and you’ll instantly forget you’re in a busy city.
Fancy a riverside stroll? No problem.
Does your dog need to desperately run off some steam in a giant field? Oldbury Court Estate has plenty of those!
Is the sun shining too brightly? No problem. Just head through the woods surrounding the estate!
And if your dog likes a dip, then they’re also allowed to swim or paddle here.
However, please stop them from paddling or swimming if the river is high or running fast. Otherwise, you and your dog could sadly find yourselves in danger.
There aren’t any defined walking trails to follow at Oldbury, but you’ll certainly have fun following your noses and seeing what you can find.
And it’s up to you how long or how far you walk as there are plenty of shortcuts through the woods and back to the open spaces.
There are two free car parks to choose from. One on the Oldbury side at BS16 2JW and the other on the Snuff Mills side at BS16 1DL.
2. Leigh Woods
Leigh Woods is one of the most well-known dog walks in Bristol as it’s home to some great views of Avon Gorge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge – and has free parking (always a bonus!)
You and your dog will love walking through Leigh Woods as there are different walking trails and routes to follow for all difficulties, ages and fitness levels.
Some paths are rocky and have slopes to navigate. But generally, a lot of the paths are flat, so you should find your walk through Leigh Woods is fairly gentle.
Leigh Woods is also perfect for when the weather is warmer as the woodlands are dense and offer lots of shade from the sun.
And if you visit from mid-April to the end of May, then you’ll also be rewarded with a view of thousands of bluebells throughout your walk!
There are two marked walking trails: the purple trail and the red trail.
At just 1.5 miles long, the purple trail only takes about 45 minutes to complete on foot. The paths are all mostly level, so this is an ideal walk if you have pushchairs, young children or younger dogs.
Remember to come off the purple trail for a bit, so you can head to the Clifton Suspension Bridge viewpoint! It’s about 20 minutes (at a gentle stroll) from the main car park to the viewpoint.
There’s also the red trail, which is just 0.7 miles long. It takes about 30 minutes to walk due to a few gentle slopes along the way.
You are, of course, more than welcome to veer away from the marked walking trails and into more of the woodlands. But it’s recommended you have access to a GPS or map so you don’t get too lost.
You’ll also need to ensure you keep off of the many cycle routes found in Leigh Woods. These are signposted throughout, so you’ll definitely spot them.
But if in doubt, this map from the National Trust shows you all you need to know.
3. Blaise Castle Estate
Blaise Castle Estate in Henbury is another popular dog walk in Bristol as there are as many as 650 acres of grounds to discover with everything from rivers and lakes to woodlands and large open fields.
And the carrot on top of the dog biscuit is Blaise Castle itself, which is a pretty folly built in 1766. The hill it sits on top of has excellent views across the grounds and city!
There are two car parks for the Blaise Castle Estate. The main car park is on Kings Weston Road and is closest to the castle and children’s playpark, while the other is called Coombe Dingle, which is best for dog walkers as it’s closest to the river and quieter trails.
But whichever route you follow, you’re sure to enjoy it and make lots of doggy friends along the way.
4. Overscourt Wood
It was our dog walker who recommended we try Overscourt Wood – and we were pleasantly surprised!
This 219-acre Bristol wood is south of Pucklechurch and near the small village of Siston.
Because it’s outside of the city, it’s a lesser-known spot to walk dogs. And because of all the twists and turns you can take, you’ll rarely come across other people even if the car park looks busy!
There are also two parts to Overscourt Wood helping to split groups up. Next to the small car park (postcode: BS30 5LY), you can walk up hills and see right across to the Mendips.
And on the other side of the road from the car park, you’ll come across flatter paths and the Siston Brook for your dog to paddle his or her feet in.
5. Willsbridge Mill
We’re lucky that this next great dog walk in Bristol is within a short 20-minute walk of our house.
But Willsbridge Mill and Valley is so popular that dog owners head to it from lots of different suburbs of Bristol including Keynsham and Bitton.
This circular walk takes you along the Siston Brook and towards the mill, which is from the 18th century and is home to a lovely tea room and ice cream parlour, which are both dog friendly. They offer a fantastic cooked breakfast!
The mill also has a charming community garden next to it, which is perfect for putting your feet up if you just want to get away from it all.
The walk itself is flat in most parts, easy to follow and even has cut-throughs down to the brook for paddling hot paws.
And the best bit yet is that the walk follows the old Dramway, which was used for carrying coal. You’ll spot various signs and monuments giving you a clue as to the place’s history, which definitely adds interest to your daily dog walk!
You may even hear the woodpeckers that are known to frequent this area too!
There’s a car park on Long Beach Road, which is free to use and well-signposted to and from the Dramway and mill. There’s also space for a few cars right next to the mill, which are reserved for those with disabilities.
BONUS! If you walk through the mill’s community garden and along the road for a bit, then it’s also possible to walk across fields and hills within the area of Willsbridge Valley. Here, you can enjoy a circular route from Willsbridge Mill; but this time with epic views across the surrounding countryside!
6. Conham River Park
Another of the best dog walks in Bristol is Conham River Park in Hanham.
This gentle flat walk follows the River Avon Trail for roughly 45 minutes. But you could keep walking further if you want, which will take you towards Bath and Pulteney Bridge.
This is a popular route with other dog walkers, families and cyclists though, so it’s best to keep your dog on a lead when it’s busy. But they are allowed off-lead along the paths when it’s safe to do so.
Another great thing about this dog walk is Beese’s Riverside Bar. It’s only open during the warmer months, but it’s home to a charming riverside beer garden and tea room.
You have to get a boat across the river to the bar but it only costs 50p for a return and takes just a couple of minutes.
And of course, dogs are allowed on the boats and in the gardens, so you can easily make a total doggy day of it if you want!
There’s a free car park at the entrance to Conham River Park. It’s a little on the small side, but you shouldn’t have any issues with parking on less busy days or during off-peak times.
Read More: Conham River Park Travel Guide
7. Leap Valley
Leap Valley in Downend is one of the lesser-known dog walks in Bristol but it’s a charming escape from the hustle and bustle.
There are various routes you can take of different lengths including a 0.9 mile walk (taking just 25 minutes), a 2 ¾ mile long walk (taking about an hour) and a 4 mile walk (which is two hours long).
Whichever way you go, you’ll come across streams, tiny bridges, woodlands, country lanes, wildflower meadows and apple and damson orchards, which all help to make this dog walk fun and varied for both you and your canine pal.
As there are several housing estates dotted around this Leap Valley dog walk, it’s super popular with locals! Your dog will certainly have plenty of other dogs to play with and say hello to.
You have a few walking trails to choose from in terms of how long you wish to walk your dog for and how far you wish to go.
There’s a 0.9 mile walk (taking just 25 minutes), a 2 ¾ mile long walk (taking about an hour) and a 4 mile walk (which is roughly two hours long).
We’d recommend the 2 ¾ miles walk as we think it incorporates all of the best and prettiest spots in Leap Valley.
Either way, this PDF guide from the local council describes each of the walks in more detail (including maps and directions for the two longest trails).
As for parking, there isn’t any official parking for Leap Valley, so you’d be best parking in one of the nearby housing estates.
While you’re in this area, don’t forget to check out The Beehive Coffee House along the Downend High Street. This charming tea room is dog friendly and is the place to be for epic freakshakes!
BONUS: Extra Special Dog Walks Near Bristol
If you fancy taking your pet pooch on a longer walk outside of the city, then here are a bunch of extra special dog walks near Bristol that you’re both sure to love!
1. Swineford
Swineford is handily located between Bath and Bristol, so it’s easy to get to for those of you living on the eastern side of the city. You should be there in less than 30 minutes.
Here, you can enjoy a large circular loop from the car park across hills and fields, through shaded woodland areas and by the side of streams, so your dog is sure to get a good amount of exercise and plenty of varied smells!
Plus the views from the Cotswolds Escarpment are phenomenal! On a clear day, you can see across Avon Valley and through to the Malvern Hills!
Follow your SatNav or Google Maps to Swan Inn Swineford on Bath Road (postcode: BS30 6LN), but don’t actually park at the pub.
There’s a small road next to the pub, which will take you through to the picnic area and a large free car park where this joyful walk begins.
2. Bath Skyline
The Bath Skyline Walk is roughly an hour in the car away from the centre of Bristol.
This is a waymarked trail run by the National Trust and offers fantastic views across the city of Bath. It’s also full of open spaces and woodlands to tire your dog out in.
The full trail runs for about 6 miles but there’s no reason why you can’t take in the views halfway along and head back if you prefer a shorter walk.
There’s no official car park for the skyline, but there are plenty of car parks in the centre of Bath that you can walk from. Alternatively, you can use Parkopedia to find unofficial parking nearby.
3. Tyntesfield
Tyntesfield in North Somerset is owned by the National Trust and is home to a grand Victorian Gothic Revival mansion, so you may be surprised to hear that dogs are welcome on the grounds and around the estate year-round.
Dogs aren’t allowed in the Kitchen Garden or Rose Garden, but as the full Tyntesfield estate spans across a whopping 6000 acres, there’s no shortage of woodlands and parklands for your dog to enjoy.
And you’ll enjoy being able to see the outside of the mansion during some of your walk too, making for an extra special day out with your dog.
Tyntesfield is just 7 miles outside of Bristol so you don’t have to go far. But you will be asked to pay £3 for parking unless you’re a National Trust member and can thus park for free.
Note: You’ll also be asked to pay entry for the estate and gardens (unless you’re a National Trust member). Check out our National Trust membership review to see whether it’s worth it for you.
4. Westonbirt Arboretum
For our final extra special dog walk around Bristol, we’re recommending that you head to Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire with your dog.
Westonbirt is roughly an hour north of Bristol and is full of gentle walking trails you can follow through the trees.
Although it’s open year-round, visiting in the autumn, late spring and early summer months is especially lovely as the trees really look their best.
This walk is fun for all of you and the fact that you can bring your dog with you really does make for such a special day out for all the family!
As with Tyntesfield, you’ll need to pay an entry fee to go on this special dog walk but parking is free onsite.
We hope you enjoy your dog walks in Bristol and around the city! Which ones do you think you’ll go on first? And have we missed any out? Let us know in the comments below!
Did you like this? Why not bookmark or pin this blog post for later?
