Westonbirt, Arboretum

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum is home to thousands of trees and shrubs from around the world, making it a particularly spectacular place for a dog walk, especially as the seasons change.

The arboretum is split into three main areas when it comes to dogs. Silk Wood is the most dog friendly, where well-behaved dogs can explore off lead as long as they are kept in sight and return when called. Dogs need to be on a lead on The Downs, including around the main visitor areas, while the Old Arboretum is completely dog free, except for assistance dogs.

There are dog waste bins throughout Silk Wood, with free poo bags available from dispensers. Water bowls are available outside the restaurant and Welcome Building, and there is also an on-site restaurant where you can stop for food and refreshments, although dogs are not permitted inside.

There are plenty of different paths and trails to explore through Silk Wood, so you can make your walk as long or as short as you like. We've picked out one of our favourite routes, a roughly 3.5-mile walk taking you through the dog friendly side of Westonbirt and its mix of ancient woodland and impressive tree collection. You can find the exact route we've chosen on OS Maps below.

Distance: Approx. 3.5 miles
Time: Approx. 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy

This walk was explored for Dog Owners Guide by Ambassadog @frankiethechocolatewcs, who provided the images and first-hand dog friendly information for this listing. This walk was also selected as one of the UK's 10 Most Scenic Dog Walks as part of our campaign with Petgevity.

Follow our chosen Westonbirt route on OS Maps