Try These 6 Scenic Dog Walks in Cheshire
With everything from grassland and wetlands to peaks and dales, the county of Cheshire is promising terrain for dog-friendly camping breaks, with many scenic dog walks to try throughout the length and breadth of the county.
These walks in Cheshire represent the very best of this part of North West England, stretching from the Mersey in the west to the Peak District in the east. So get ready to find your new favourite trails, investigate untrodden paths and earmark a few routes for your next trip as we encourage you to try these 6 scenic dog walks in Cheshire.
Find local dog-friendly campsites here, or click here to browse every single one of Pitchup’s Cheshire campsites.
Delamere Forest
For a relatively gentle stretch of the legs (all four of them…), head to Delamere Forest, the largest wooded area in Cheshire and a very dog-friendly spot indeed. This flat and spacious area has plenty of peaceful waymarked routes ranging from roughly two to six miles, many of which are made from sandstone (meaning less muddy paws in wet weather).
After a scenic woodland walk, stop off for lunch in the picnic area, or head to the forest café to pick up a coffee or ice cream. It's worth noting that although Delamere Forest has a number of car parks, all parking within the area managed by Forestry England is pay and display.
Browse campsites near Delamere Forest with availability for your dates.
The Sandstone Trail
Stretching from the Mersey in the north down to the tip of Shropshire in the south, Cheshire’s Sandstone Trail is a very popular pick with adventurous dog walkers who don’t mind negotiating more difficult terrain. The route is roughly 34 miles in total, so all but the most energetic walkers will want to split up the trail into more manageable legs.
If you can only do one walk on the Sandstone Trail during your Cheshire holiday, make it the Raw Head Walk, a section best started in the village of Burwardsley. After walking through the woodland at the start, get ready for a steep ascent and spectacular panoramas over the Mid Cheshire countryside before looping back to the car after just over five miles – stopping en route at the dog-friendly pub in the village centre, of course…
Find more exhilarating hill walks and scenic strolls in our Ultimate North West England Camping Guide.
Eaton Hall/Duke’s Drive
Located roughly four miles south of Chester city centre, Eaton Hall is part of the Duke of Westminster’s estate, which covers around 11,000 acres of Cheshire countryside. Although this is private land, the good news is that this dog-friendly estate is sometimes open to the public, with the main gardens open four times a year to raise money for charity.
When the gardens aren’t open, we recommend heading for a stroll on Duke’s Drive, a traffic-free path originally built to serve Eaton Hall that connects Handbridge with the village of Eccleston. The walk passes through an attractive mixed woodland with a range of trees and shrubs and has a well-surfaced flat path with no stiles.
Eaton Hall not open during your visit? Click here to explore more of the best things to do in Cheshire.
Grosvenor Park
Although this next pick is right in the middle of Chester, with 20 acres of landscaped grounds and a scenic position by the river Dee it can often have the feel of a fully-fledged country park. Grosvenor Park, designed by Edward Kemp back in the 19th century, is extremely popular with residents, visitors and their four-legged companions, and it's perhaps the most easily accessible of all the routes on this list.
Take a walk around the tree trail, stop for a hot drink at the lodge and gaze out over the local landscape from the belvedere with your trusty pet by your side – just make sure he's kept on a short lead when around the miniature railway.
The Gritstone Trail
Winding its way through eastern Cheshire on the edge of the Peak District, the Gritstone Trail is a challenging route with plenty of spectacular geological sites along the way. Dogs are allowed on the whole trail, but make sure they are kept on a lead and OK around the cyclists, horses and other route users you’ll no doubt pass along the way.
Starting in Disley, the route passes the spectacular National Trust-managed mansion at Lyme Park before continuing on uphill to an elevated stretch above the Cheshire Plain. If you’re not yet puffed out, keep going through Tegg’s Nose Country Park, a former quarry, before exploring Rushton Bank, the hilliest part of the route. For the next stage, you can look forward to passing the ruined castle at Mow Top before joining the mercifully flat towpath along the Macclesfield Canal for the final stretch of this 35-mile trail.
Need somewhere to stop along the way? Say no more – our pick of must-visit pubs in Cheshire is here to help.
Tarvin Community Woodland
About six miles from central Chester, Tarvin Community Woodland is a peaceful wildlife haven managed by the people of the local village. After more than 10,000 hours of voluntary forestry work, the woodland now has well-maintained routes and hundreds of newly planted trees, striking an excellent balance between leisure and nature. These wooded walks are very dog-friendly, with limited free parking and several dog bins dotted along the major routes.
Want to take your canine pals for a run-around on the sand? Check out which of these top beaches near Cheshire are dog-friendly and plan a day trip to the coast.