Dog-friendly days out in the Cotswolds
Are you looking to book yourself a luxury lakeside escape to Lower Mill Estate with your four-legged friend? No trip to the Cotswolds is complete without exciting days out for you and your dog. Whether you're looking for an adventure for you and your energetic pooch, or you prefer the more relaxed atmosphere of a country park, there are plenty of ways to live the Cotswold life with your four-legged friend.
To help you and your furry companion make the most of the glorious countryside, here are a few local attractions you can enjoy with your four-legged friend.
The best Cotswolds dog walks
Lower Slaughter to Upper Slaughter Walk
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately 35–44 minutes’ drive
- Postcode: GL54 2HP
- Walk distance: 1.75 – 3.3 miles depending on route
Enjoy a choice of two short walks with your dog that will take you from Lower Slaughter to Upper Slaughter with astounding views of the River Eye from these quaint countryside villages. Afterwards, end your day of exploring at the Slaughters Inn for a hearty English lunch, where all dogs are welcome at this excellent dog-friendly pub in the Cotswolds.
Broadway Tower to Broadway walk
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately 50-60 minutes’ drive
- Postcode: WR12 7LB (Starting at Broadway Tower)
- Walk distance: 4 miles circular
Enjoy a circular walk from Broadway Tower to Broadway with your favourite pooch and discover the hidden gems of the charming village of Broadway. Perfect for walkies and browsing the local village shops, choose a day of walks and village charm that everyone can enjoy.
Dog-friendly, family attractions in the Cotswolds
Cotswold Motoring Museum, Bourton-on-the-Water
Cotswold Motoring Museum photographed by Elliott Brown.
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately 34 minutes’ drive via A429
- Postcode: GL54 2BY
Just over 30 minutes away is the picturesque, chocolate-box village of Bourton-on-the-Water. A true gem of the Cotswolds, it’s full of adventures for you and your four-legged friend who are welcome in most village pubs and cafés. Visit the Cotswold Motoring Museum to travel through motoring history with your furry companion.
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway photographed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately 47-50 minutes’ drive (via A429)
- Postcode: GL54 5LD
Take the steam train with your furry friend and travel on the tracks for an experience like no other at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. Discover the heritage behind the great steam and diesel railway up close for a day of adventure by train. Why not photograph the spectacular views of the Cotswolds scenery as you pass and capture memories with the entire family?
Cirencester Park, Cirencester
Cirencester Park photographed by Pauline Kenny.
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately 13 – 15 minutes’ drive
- Postcode: GL7 1UR
Just over 10 minutes away from Lower Mill Estate, located in the grandeur of the Bathurst Estate, Cirencester Park is a great spot for a day out with your pooch. A popular spot for dog walking, you’re sure to make friends while enjoying the dedicated doggy areas where four-legged friends can run, sniff and play freely together. After exploring, head into the town where a host of shops, cafés and pubs are waiting to welcome you and your pup.
Cerney House Gardens, North Cerney
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately 20 minutes’ drive
- Postcode: GL7 7BX
Cerney House and Gardens are just 20 minutes away in the heart of the Cotswolds. A tranquil oasis for visitors and their dogs, with a gazebo walk, woodlands and a vegetable garden, there is plenty for your four-legged friend to discover.
Westonbirt Arboretum, Westonbirt
Westonbirt Arboretum photographed by Gerry Fox.
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately 30 minutes’ drive
- Postcode: GL8 8QS
Less than 30 minutes away are the stunning tree gardens of Westonbirt Arboretum. With seasonal trails to follow amongst a variety of trees, flora and fauna, your pooch will surely tire themselves out with acres of woodland to explore in the Silk Wood.
Newark Park, Wotton-under-Edge
Newark Park House by Ian Knox.
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately 35 – 40 minutes’ drive
- Postcode: GL12 7PZ
Just over 30 minutes away from Lower Mill Estate is Newark Park, a National Trust site that welcomes dogs throughout the estate. With beautiful parklands to explore, you and your pooch can enjoy a day exploring the woodlands and stopping for a picturesque picnic together.
Painswick Rococo Garden, Painswick
Rococo Gardens, Painswick photographed by Patrick Gruban.
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately 35 minutes’ drive
- Postcode: GL6 6TH
Just 35 minutes away, discover stunning architecture, woodland trails and towering trees at Painswick Rococo Gardens, perfect for a relaxed and picturesque dog walk. Dogs are also allowed inside the café, which is stocked with treats that are sure to get tails wagging after a day of exciting adventure.
Birdland Park and Gardens
Birdland Park photographed by Karen Roe.
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately 35–40 minutes’ drive
- Postcode: GL54 2AY
Settle down for a picnic in Birdland's picturesque grasslands and gardens. All dogs are welcome to join in the fun and see the local wildlife and variety of birds thriving in the acres of woodland. Perfect for animal lovers as well as your favourite animal, your day of exploring the park grounds is sure to become a highlight of your Cotswold holiday.
Woodchester Park, Stonehouse
Woodchester Park in the Cotswolds photographed by Gerry Fox.
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately 40 minutes’ drive
- Postcode: GL10 3UH
Less than 40 minutes away is the secluded woodland valley of Woodchester Park. A National Trust woodland ideal for a day of outdoor adventure, it’s just waiting to be explored by dogs and their human companions – with several picturesque routes for scenic walkies and lakes to doggy paddle in!
Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford
Red Panda at Cotswold Wildlife Park photographed by Marie Hale.
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately 40 minutes’ drive
- Postcode: OX18 4JP
You can have a paw-some day out introducing your four-legged friend to a host of other animals at Cotswold Wildlife Park. With spacious lawns to roam, families and pooches alike are sure to have a paw-fect day out.
Croome Park, Worcester
Croome Park photographed by Tony Hisgett.
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately an hour’s drive
- Postcode: WR8 9DW
Just over an hour away is Croome Park, a National Trust site with miles of routes to discover amongst temples, follies and beautiful lakes. Dogs need to be kept on a lead due to the livestock, but there are plenty of fields to scamper around. The stunning panoramic landscape offers a spectacular backdrop for those Instagrammable photos together!
Great Witcombe Roman Villa, Brockworth
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately 30 minutes’ drive
- Postcode: GL3 4TW
Just over half an hour away, dogs can join their families on an adventure through time, paying a visit to what remains of a grand country estate from Roman Britain. Accessible from the Cotswold Way, Great Witcombe Roman Villa is not only steeped in history, but boasts gorgeous views, surrounded by plenty of open space for zoomies.
Cotswold Lavender
Cotswold Lavender photographed by Karen Roe.
- Distance from Lower Mill Estate: Approximately 50 minutes’ drive
- Postcode: WR12 7JY
(Open 14th June until 4th August 2024)
Enjoy a day with the whole family exploring and taking photos in the vast lavender fields at Cotswold Lavender. Your dog is welcome to smell the fresh lavender and you can walk your furry companion around the lush fields of the countryside. Why not pick up a souvenir of fresh lavender produce from the farm before the journey home?
Your perfect dog-friendly holiday at Lower Mill Estate
Lower Mill Estate is the perfect destination for a dog-friendly holiday, whether you stay on-site or venture out to explore the surrounding Cotswolds AONB.
Experience the Cotswolds with your dog up close via our lakeside lodges and capture memories you will treasure for a lifetime together at our dog-friendly holiday accommodation.
Lower Mill Estate has everything you could possibly need for the ideal dog-friendly holiday, from dog-friendly on-site activities, such as exciting water activities with doggie lifejackets for hire, to dog-friendly dining at Ballihoo with a special menu for dogs. With acres of nature reserve to explore, Lower Mill Estate is a paradise for dogs and owners alike.
Contact us today and we will help find the perfect property to cater to you and your pooch’s needs for an unforgettable trip.
With so much to explore, book your dog-friendly Cotswold escape and discover all of these spectacular dog-friendly attractions on your next holiday!
Dog-friendly cottages in the Cotswolds
