Looking for somewhere new to walk your dog? Here are seven dog walks in Hereford and a short drive out, from riverside paths you can start in the city centre to woods and hillforts further afield. We’ve stuck to the details the people who look after each place publish themselves, so you know what to expect before you set off. If you’re after cafés, pubs and the cathedral too, have a look at our guide to dog-friendly places in Hereford.
Walks from the city
1. The riverside to Breinton Springs
Herefordshire Council’s waymarked Breinton circular walk is 5.5 miles (8.9km), with no stiles, 16 gates and two short steep slopes. It runs out west of the city along the River Wye to Breinton Springs, a National Trust spot with an old cider orchard, woodland and a freshwater spring by the river. You can use the city centre car parks (charges apply) or the free National Trust car park at Breinton Springs. Visit Herefordshire lists Breinton Springs as dog-friendly.
2. The Wye Valley Walk to Hampton Bishop and Mordiford
For a longer day, follow the Wye Valley Walk east out of Hereford. It starts at the Old Wye Bridge, runs through Bishop’s Meadow and over the Victoria suspension bridge, then follows the floodplain to Hampton Bishop and the River Lugg to Mordiford. The full stage to above Fownhope is 6.75 miles (10.9km), so it’s one for fit dogs or a there-and-back. There are pubs at Hampton Bishop and Mordiford, but check they’re happy to see dogs before you go in. The Wye Valley Walk’s own advice is to keep your dog on the path, use a short lead through sheep or cattle and near farmyards, and be aware that not every stile is easy for dogs.
3. Great Western Way (“The Lines”)
The old railway line through the city is now the Great Western Way, a shared walking and cycling path known locally as “The Lines”. Herefordshire Council has recently improved the stretch from Barton Yard (by Sainsbury’s) to Widemarsh Common, with new lighting, a new surface and improved access points. It’s handy for a quick leg-stretch, and as you’ll be sharing it with bikes, a short lead makes life easier for everyone.
4. Lugg Meadow
On the eastern edge of the city, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s Lugg Meadow is one of the most important surviving Lammas meadows in the UK. You can park in the lane by the entrance, off the A438 opposite the Cock of Tupsley pub. Dogs need to be on a lead from 1 March to 31 July for nesting birds, and whenever livestock are grazing. The rest of the year, keep them under close control. Please stay out of the growing hay between late April and July, and expect the meadows to flood in winter. There are no surfaced paths, so wellies help.
A short drive into Herefordshire
5. Credenhill Park Wood
About five miles north-west of Hereford, the Woodland Trust’s Credenhill Park Wood climbs to one of Britain’s large Iron Age hillforts, with views over to the Black Mountains. There are three waymarked walks: yellow (2.4km), white (3.2km) and blue (4km), all on a hill, so expect a climb. The free car park off the Credenhill to Tillington road has space for about 10 to 12 cars. The Woodland Trust says dogs are welcome, and deer live in the wood, so keep yours close.
6. Croft Castle
The National Trust’s Croft Castle, near Leominster, has 1,500 acres of parkland and five waymarked walks, from the 1.5-mile Fishpool Valley walk to the 3-mile loop round Croft Ambrey hillfort. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome on all of them, as cattle and sheep graze the parkland. Dogs aren’t allowed to swim in the Fishpool Valley pools. There are water bowls and dog bins in the main car park, and dogs are welcome in the glazed area of the tea-room. You’ll need an admission ticket or National Trust membership for the trails.
7. British Camp, Malvern Hills
On the Herefordshire side of the Malvern Hills, British Camp is an Iron Age hillfort on the Herefordshire Beacon, cared for by the Malvern Hills Trust. Start from the Trust’s pay and display British Camp car park. The Trust welcomes responsible dog owners and asks for dogs under close control at all times. Sheep and cattle graze parts of the southern hills, so check its Stockwatch updates before you go.
Before you set off
Wherever you walk, check the signs for livestock and seasonal lead rules, take water for your dog and always carry poo bags. Across Herefordshire you must pick up after your dog, and an officer can ask you to put your dog on a lead (the details are on the council’s dog control page). Rules can change, so check each site’s own page before you go.
Finish with a treat stop
However you spend your day exploring dog walks in Herefordshire, come and see us afterwards. We’re in The Atrium at Maylord Orchards, in the middle of Hereford, and dogs are welcome inside the café, with fresh water and a bed for a well-earned lie down. Online ordering is paused for now, but everything is on the shelves at the deli counter, including our treat bags of bite-size rewards that fit nicely in a coat pocket for next time. Directions are on our visit page.