Dog-Friendly winter walks in the UK
Date published: 2 Jan 2026
Winter doesn’t mean hunkering down – it’s prime time for frost-tipped views, empty beaches and cafés that welcome muddy paws like VIPs. If you’re hunting places to go with dogs in winter, think firm paths, big skies and pubs with roaring fires. Wrap up, pocket the treats and you’re halfway there.
These winter walks lean low-mud and high-reward – coastal promenades, forest tracks, old railway trails and lakeside loops that keep paws clean and tails high. Add a thermos and a post-stroll pie and you’ve basically cracked January.
From Norfolk’s wide sands to Highland pines, we’ve rounded up the best dog walks in the UK for cold-weather adventures. Short on daylight – yes. Short on magic – absolutely not.
Holkham Beach – Norfolk
Miles of hard–packed sand, pine–fringed dunes and big skies made for winter striding. Start from Lady Anne’s Drive and head towards Wells–next–the–Sea for a firm, paw–friendly yomp with minimal mud.
Detour through the boardwalks behind the pines for shelter when the breeze bites, then loop back along the tideline for seal–spotting and stick–throwing. Keep an eye on tides and the cordoned–off areas for wildlife, and finish with a flask on the bank as the sky does its sunset thing.
Loch Leven Heritage Trail – Perth & Kinross
A 13-mile waymarked loop with options to do just the prettiest chunks – all off-road, mostly level, and built for winter legs. Expect views to snow–dusted Lomond Hills, reedbeds busy with wintering birds and plenty of benches for biscuit stops.
Start at Kinross Pier or the RSPB Vane Farm car park and follow the excellent gravel path. Leads on near wildlife, but otherwise this is easy, big-sky walking that keeps paws clean and tails high.
Monsal Trail – Peak District, Derbyshire
An old railway turned multi-use path – translation: wide, level and mercifully low-mud. Pick up the trail at Hassop Station for parking, coffee and loos, then head through lit tunnels towards Monsal Head for valley views that still slap in winter light.
It’s perfect for mixed–ability groups, prams and old paws that prefer a steady plod. Add a short detour to the viaduct for photos and that “we’re definitely coming back in spring” feeling.
Derwentwater Shore Path – Keswick, Cumbria
A classic Lake District circuit with plenty of firm sections, jetties for pebble-plopping and handy road links if you fancy a shorter loop. Start from the Theatre by the Lake and go clockwise for views to Catbells and Borrowdale that look extra dramatic in winter sun.
Expect a few puddles and roots, but most of it is paw–pleasing and sheltered. Pubs and cafés in Keswick make the warm-up easy – fires, towels, the lot.
Alnmouth & Warkworth Beach – Northumberland
Golden sand for miles, a handsome estuary and a gentle path to Warkworth Castle if you want a history hit with your zoomies. Winter thins the crowds, revealing a glorious fetch–friendly runway with firm, flat stretches even after rain.
Park at Alnmouth and stroll south, watching waders work the shallows and the castle sharpen on the horizon. Wrap up – the North Sea keeps things brisk – and bring that extra bag of treats for extra laps.
Great Orme Marine Drive – Llandudno, Conwy
All the drama of a mountain walk with the practicality of a tarmac loop. The toll road hugs limestone cliffs for big views over Anglesey and Snowdonia while paws stay clean and traction stays high.
Start at the pier end and follow the one–way circuit, detouring to viewpoints if conditions are kind. Finish with a flat promenade amble for easy mileage and café stops. Windproofs recommended – the Orme does not play.
Richmond Park Tamsin Trail – London
A 7-mile circumnavigation of London’s wildest green space – well–drained paths, rolling views and a decent chance of deer cameos. Hop on at Pembroke Lodge or Roehampton Gate and keep dogs on leads near wildlife, then let them cruise the open stretches.
Winter light through the oaks is pure magic, and there are plenty of exit points for a shorter saunter to coffee. Big nature, easy logistics, happy paws.
New Forest Inclosures – Wilverley or Rhinefield, Hampshire
Pick a New Forest inclosure and you’ll get wide forestry tracks that shrug off winter weather. Wilverley is a favourite – waymarked loops through pines and heath with car parks and loos on hand – while Rhinefield adds ornamental avenues and the Tall Trees Trail for variety.
Expect ponies, donkeys and the odd highland moo, so leads to hand, please. Finish with a village pub for chips, gravy and a dozy dog under the table.
Seven Sisters Country Park – East Sussex
Chalk–white cliffs, meandering river and gravel paths that keep things civilised when the fields are squelchy. Start at the visitor centre and follow the Cuckmere out to the shingle for widescreen sea views without slog.
If you’re feeling bold and conditions are dry, climb for a taste of the rolling cliff tops – otherwise, stick to the valley floor for easy–going beauty. Hats on, photos ready, cliffs respected.
Portstewart Strand – County Londonderry
Two miles of Atlantic beach backed by towering dunes – a winter runway for joyful zooms and big lungfuls of sea air. The sand is firm at low tide, the views stretch to Donegal and Mussenden Temple, and there’s usually space to find your own rhythm.
Boardwalks into the dunes offer shelter when the breeze picks up. Check tide times, keep an eye out for horse riders, and reward good behaviour with a car-boot towel and biscuits.
Formby Pinewoods & Beach – Merseyside
A brilliant mix of waymarked sandy trails through red–squirrel pinewoods and a broad beach for full-tilt sprints. The pines give shelter on blustery days, the dunes are cinematic in winter light, and the sand – when the tide’s out – is a joy under paw.
Start from Lifeboat Road or Victoria Road car parks, do a woodland loop, then drop to the shore for the finale. Leads on near wildlife and dunes – otherwise, pure, sandy happiness.
Feeling spontaneous? Our last-minute cottages put you within sniffing distance of beaches, forests and fire-side pubs – ideal for a quick winter reset with built-in walkies. Pack the lead, grab a scarf and go.
Meet the author
Ian LewisIan's worked in travel for over 15 years and has written about destinations across the whole of the UK (and beyond). He loves all kinds of getaways with every member of the family on two legs or four, seeking out the more unique and interesting properties wherever he can.
