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Dog walking

Our lakeside walks, wild forests and open fields offer an unrivalled variety of short and longer walks along good quality trails and tracks - to keep your boots (mostly!) mud-free and your dog feeling happy, and ready to settle down for the evening.

Practical information

We want Windsor Great Park to be an environment that all of our visitors can enjoy. Dogs must be kept under control at all times and in some areas, which are signposted, must be kept on leads. 

Please note that there are times when we have to close areas to dog walking access. Please view our Visitor Updates page for the latest information.

If you are planning a visit to the Park with your dog, please read the following points carefully:

  • Well behaved dogs, on leads, are welcome on the Dog Friendly Terrace of The Savill Building
  • Water bowls are available on request on the terrace, and water is also available outside Virginia Water Pavilion
  • In order to preserve the landscaped natural beauty of The Valley Gardens, dog walkers are asked to please keep to the marked paths and, as outlined above, should be on leads at all times
  • Dog bins should be used at all times – please see the bottom of this page for more information
  • Please do not not exercise your dog whilst cycling, skate-boarding or skating in Windsor Great Park
  • Dogs are not allowed in The Savill Garden, and must be kept on leads in the following locations:
  1. The Dog Terrace at The Savill Building
  2. The Valley Gardens (including the Heather Garden)
  3. The Deer Park and Long Walk
  4. The immediate area of the playground and picnic areas at Obelisk Lawn
  5. The immediate area around Virginia Water Pavilion

A copy of The Crown Estate's agreement with the Kennel Club, outlining a code of best practice for walking dogs in Windsor Great Park, can be found below. 

Kennel Club Agreement

If you have lost your dog whilst walking within Windsor Great Park, or have found a dog without an owner, please contact our Visitor Services Team on 07825 430192, or our Park Wardens on 07833 543025. These numbers can also be used for all other urgent and immediate concerns whilst in the Park.

This area offers vast expanses of green grass for both you and your dog to enjoy. Enter The Great Park through Cambridge Gate by Windsor Castle and enjoy a steady three mile climb towards the Copper Horse at the top of Snow Hill. On reaching the statue, you’ll find stunning views over Windsor Castle, and plenty of hilly ground within the Deer Park to exercise your dog. Dogs must be kept on leads.

With its flowering forest, wild grass meadows and exotic shrubs, The Valley Gardens is alive with the scents of grass, evergreen trees and seasonal blooms - loved by both our human and four-legged friends. Choose from a range of marked routes, each offering its own special view over the lake, and giving you and your dog the freedom to explore your own path. Dogs must be kept on leads.

The woodland path bordering Virginia Water lake offers plenty of interesting things for both you and your dog to discover. From the rushing waters of the Cascade, to the mixed woodland undergrowth, it is no wonder the shores of the lake are favoured by so many dog walkers. A trip around the lake covers a distance of 4 ½ miles (7km), with the Pavilion waiting to greet you both at the end of your trip.

With a fun-filled play area for young children to explore, a resident catering service and views of Cumberland Obelisk and Obelisk Pond, this area is a great space for families to come and relax after a long dog walk. Meet up with family and friends - including the four-legged variety – to enjoy a picnic on the green lawns around the large cedar trees.

Dog bins

We have provided dog bins across Windsor Great Park for your convenience. Please use these bins for your bagged dog waste, and do not leave the bags on the ground or hanging in bushes and trees. Local authority advice is that bagged dog waste may be disposed of in domestic bins at home, or as a last resort may be disposed of in public litter bins. The best option is to use the dog waste bins provided - helping us to keep Windsor Great Park both clean and safe for all our visitors to enjoy. Please visit our Interactive Map, and select the dog bin filter, to find the location of all dog bins.

Windsor Great Park Membership

Whether you're a keen horticulturist looking for inspiration, a dog owner who wants an unrivalled variety of short and longer walks, or a family looking for a place to enjoy nature and history there is a membership type to suit you.

 

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