When the days are short and blustery, there’s something magical about wrapping up and wandering through woodland with your dog. From ancient oaks to towering pines, the UK’s forests offer miles of off-lead paths, seasonal wildlife, and cosy pit-stops for you and your pup. Whether you’re seeking shelter from the storms, wildlife encounters, or winter walkies somewhere new, there’s a forest adventure to match every mood, paw and pace.
Here’s our pick of Britain’s best winter woodlands for dog walks.
Glenmore Forest
Cairngorms, Scotland
Nestled in the shadow of the mighty Cairngorms, Glenmore Forest is a winter haven for walkers with dogs. Frolic amidst frost-dusted pines and snow-flecked trails, in a magical atmosphere where lochs glisten in the low winter sun. Dogs can roam off-lead paths, keen eyes might spot deer or wintering birds among the trees, and cosy Highland cafés and pubs beckon muddy paws between forest adventures.
Dalby Forest
North Yorkshire
Pad along paw-friendly trails beneath pine plantations and broadleaf woodland, in a serene, otherworldly winter wonderland. Dalby Forest’s sculptures and squirrel spotting add an interesting twist to walkies, while wide, dog-friendly trails make off-lead adventures a cinch. When North Yorkshire’s wild weather has you heading for shelter, there are plenty of pubs for fireside pints on the way back to your cosy cottage.
Grizedale Forest
Lake District
With forest tracks, a famous sculpture trail, and panoramic views of frost-tipped trees and glinting streams, every step and paw-print through the Lake District’s Grizedale Forest comes with a flurry of rewards for dogs and humans. Well-marked paths make access easy in the wettest weather, while nearby dog-friendly inns and cottages provide a warm haven after a day exploring with your furry friend.
Sherwood Forest
Nottinghamshire
Head to Nottinghamshire with your hound and step into winter magic among the legendary oaks of Sherwood Forest. Trails vary from short woodland loops to longer routes through ancient groves, where deer tracks lace the paths and birds flit between gnarled branches. Spot the 1,000-year-old Major Oak – said to have sheltered Robin Hood – and round up your woodland adventure in a cosy inn with a roaring fire and a warm welcome for muddy paws.
Thetford Forest
Norfolk / Suffolk
Slip into the silence of Thetford Forest’s vast conifer plantations that straddle the border between Norfolk and Suffolk. Miles of wide, off-lead trails wind through peaceful canopies where morning mists linger and picnic benches beckon you to pause and soak up the ambience while your four-legged sidekick snuffles through the undergrowth. Bring a flask of hot chocolate, or end your walkies in a cosy inn or dog-friendly cottage with all the creature comforts you need to warm up after a day outdoors.
Coed y Brenin
Snowdonia, Wales
Set in the rugged heart of Snowdonia, Coed y Brenin brims with mountain drama in winter. It’s up to you and Rover if you want to ramp up the adventure or take it easy – choose from gentle riverside rambles, forest tracks to thundering waterfalls, and demanding climbs to breathtaking viewpoints. Whichever way you walk, the scenery is set to blow you away, but you’ll be pleased to thaw out by the fire in a dog-friendly inn and relive the day’s wild, Welsh wanderings. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy the outdoors on a dog-friendly holiday in Wales.
Savernake Forest
Wiltshire, England
How about winter walkies in Wiltshire? Follow winding trails beneath Savernake Forest’s ancient oaks and soak up the hush of frost-glazed hollows. Fido will love romping along off-lead paths, splashing through muddy puddles, and snuffling through piles of crisp fallen leaves, before a well-earned warm-up in a paw-friendly pub or cosy cottage with a roaring fire, hearty fare, and water bowls at the ready.
New Forest
Hampshire
Ancient oaks, open heathland, and mossy glades lure you and your dog into the sheltered canopies of the New Forest in winter. Wander near Bolderwood or Rhinefield’s towering redwoods, where wild ponies drift beneath bare branches and frost glitters on the gorse. There are trails to scamper along and wide-open spaces to play fetch, and when the weather calls time you can head to cosy pubs and tearooms that await with warm drinks, real ales, and water bowls. With plenty of dog friendly places to stay in the New Forest, it’s a wonderful destination for time among the trees.
Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park
Scotland
In winter, the forests and trails of the Trossachs National Park take on a cinematic calm. Ice sparkles at the water’s edge, and mist curls through Scots pines that part at lochs, waterfalls and woodland clearings. While your dog bounds ahead, watch for the flash of deer and red squirrels, and when your fingers and toes are numb, retreat to a cosy Scottish cottage or dog-friendly inn where whisky and water bowls await.
Alice Holt Forest
Hampshire
Stride out for walkies on Alice Holt Forest’s wide, well-kept trails, and feel the crunch of frosty leaves under paw and foot. Let your dog bound along off-lead paths, while you tackle waymarked loops past ice-cold streams, or stretch out on longer circuits through misty valleys. Pause at a dog-friendly café or pub for hearty food and drink, then head back into Hampshire’s wild woodland for another invigorating dog-friendly adventure.
Book a Cottage Near Britain’s Best Winter Woodlands
Search our collection of cosy, dog-friendly cottages, where you and Fido can flop by the fire after winter days out in the forest.
