Dogs at the Essex Country Parks
At the Essex Country Parks, not only do we welcome well behaved dogs but we also have a wide variety of landscapes which are perfect for walking your furry friends and helping both of you to get some exercise.
At the Essex Country Parks we provide for dogs – and owners – by offering:
- Quiet, traffic free walking trails
Explore a variety of landscapes including around lakes, walks through beautiful woodlands and across wide open grasslands.
- Dog agility training areas
At Belhus Woods and Thorndon Country Park South* dog agility training courses are available. They can jump, negotiate ramps, tunnels, hoops and more, all with instructions – it’s a great and fun way to embed their training.
*The Belhus Woods agility training area is enclosed. At Thorndon South dogs will still need to be under control as the agility training course is not fenced off.
- Dog friendly cafes
For the pooch who likes a rest and a drink after a long walk we have many cafés which welcome them all year round. Both dogs and owners are welcome to pop in for a bowl of water and other refreshments at Belhus Woods, Great Notley, Hadleigh and Weald Country Parks.
Check the café opening times on the place pages.
Responsible Dog Walking Tips
Please follow these simple tips when you are walking your canine friends in an Essex Country Park.
- Remember, it is the owner’s responsibility to keep dog(s) under control and in sight. If you’re in any doubt, keep your dog on a lead.
- Plan ahead. Every dog is different with their own individual needs. Make sure you plan walks with the dog's age, health, behaviour and fitness in mind.
- It is the dog walker’s responsibility to clear up after their pet. Throughout the parks a number of dog waste disposal bins are provided for convenience. Please use the bins responsibly.
- Adhere to any rules as requested by the park management and all by-laws.
- Follow any route diversions. Please respect temporary areas and/or route closures, even if they are your normal or favoured walking routes. The park management team will have ensured that diversions and other routes are available.
- Respect the areas where dogs are not permitted or where they need to be kept on a lead – such as where livestock are grazing*. This is for the safety of your animals and ours.
- Please keep any dogs on a lead around children’s play areas and sculpture trails. Dogs are not permitted in the children's play areas. While your dog might be of the friendly four-legged kind it can be scary to younger people and those with little legs.
- Remember to close any gates behind you.
- Always respect park employees.
- It’s an offence to allow your dog to chase or injure birds, grazing animals or other wildlife. Remember, it can have serious consequences for the animals involved and could end up seeing you get fined. To learn more about your responsibilities as a dog owner around grazing livestock on the Bluecross website.
To discover a number of top dog walks at an Essex Country Park see our blog.
*Read more about our natural land management methods and our landscape restoration programme at the Essex Country Parks.
