Couple walking in the Park with a dog on a lead.

Dog walking in

Windsor Great Park

The Windsor Estate is home to a vast array of habitats, flora and fauna and is an internationally recognised example of biodiversity, sustainability, and conservation.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome in Windsor Great Park and Forest with our lakes, forests and fields offering a beautiful variety of walks along quality trails and tracks.

To protect the wildlife and habitats of the Windsor Estate and to ensure that all our visitors have a safe and enjoyable visit, we have a code of conduct that all dog walkers must follow.

As with all visitors, we ask dog owners to stay aware of their surroundings and treat others with respect. There are plenty of places where dogs can roam off the lead, but they should always be under control – especially around people, horses or other wildlife.

The Blue Cross has detailed guidance on dog walking near horses, but much of it is equally relevant to meeting cyclists and other visitors.

Not everyone is comfortable around dogs, but common-sense, respect and courtesy on both sides can go a long way.

Where to walk and facilities

Dogs are welcome in any of our public areas with these exceptions:

The Savill Garden Visitor Centre
The Savill Garden
Adventure Play
Virginia Water Pavilion and Shop

Assistance dogs and emotional assistance dogs are permitted in all public areas. View information about accessibility at Windsor Great Park here.

You can find facilities for you and your dog at:

The Savill Garden Visitor Centre terrace
Virginia Water Pavilion dog terrace

Lead-only areas

For everyone’s safety and enjoyment, dogs must stay on lead if they do not respond to recall and, in the following areas:

Car parks
Around the visitor centres at The Savill Garden and Virginia Water Pavilion
Obelisk Lawn
The Valley Gardens
The Deer Park
or, where signs dictate

White dog with brown spots doing a poop on the grass.

Clearing up after your dog

Clearing up after your dog ensures that the landscape of Windsor Great Park and Forest remains pleasant and clean for everyone to enjoy.

Dog waste

As well as being unpleasant for other visitors to find, dog waste can:

Cause serious ecological damage to plants
Spread disease in humans and animals

Dog waste disposal

Dog walkers must:

Carry sufficient dog waste bags for the number of dogs you are exercising
Pick up dog waste from dogs in your care and ensure that it is appropriately sealed, disposed of in bins or, taken home
Please do not leave your dog waste bags lying around or attached to fences or trees

Keep dogs and horses safe around each other

Windsor Great Park is home to Guard’s Polo Club as well as a place that our horse riding Members and Horse Riding Schools can enjoy all-year round.

Horse tracks in Windsor Great Park can be identified by orange/red sand. For everyone’s safety and enjoyment, when you are walking your dog/s please stay off of the horse tracks, and, if you do not have a sound recall for your dog/s, they must be kept on a lead.

The British Horse Society has produced a guide for both dog owners and horse riders outlining the safest way to share the space together.

A dog on a lead, looking up at its owner.

Professional dog walkers

The Dogs Trust has put together a guide for professional dog walkers to ensure that they are following best practice and welfare for dogs in their care.

Take a look at the Dogs Trust 10 top tips for dog walkers here.

Download the Dogs Trust professional walkers’ guidelines for detailed information.

Discover more

See our most popular walks, or learn about conservation on the Windsor Estate.

Park map & guide

View and download our Park map & guide to help you make the most of your visit to Windsor Great Park.

Find out more

Couple in The Savill Garden sitting on a bench.

Visitor updates

As an operational Estate, it is sometimes necessary to close parts of Windsor Great Park. Please check visitor updates below before you travel.

Find out more

The Cascade, Virginia Water Lake, Windsor Great Park.

Parking

Find out more about parking and charges at Windsor Great Park.

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Five Arch Bridge at Virginia Water Lake with trees in the background.

Picnics

Relax with family and friends with a picnic in Windsor Great Park. There are plenty of places to take in the fresh air and enjoy the stunning backdrop of the Obelisk Pond and Virginia Water Lake.

Find out more