Walking your dog in Hampshire

In general, most of us know that there are many benefits that come with regular exercise, including walking, although it can sometimes be a struggle to get out and about in these colder winter months. January can be especially trying, with the joys of Christmas over, many of us go back to work after a festive break and the January blues may well have kicked in.  Motivation, therefore, can be quite low at this time of year.

For all you dog owners out there it’s imperative to give your furry friend(s) regular walks and although  the adverse weather is rather uninviting at this time of year, there are always idyllic places to go and explore.  The perfect antidote to being out in the cold is being in a picturesque location, so for those of you lucky enough to live in the beautiful county of Hampshire, here are just a few of the places we would highly recommend, especially for walkies!

Not only does River Hamble Country Park cater for all the family with room for picnics, BBQ facilities, a vast area of ancient woodland to explore, play areas for children and even a working farm on site, there is an enclosed dog walking field, so you can quite literally cater for all the family, 4-legged or otherwise.

Queen Elizabeth Country Park has extensive woodland and dramatic downland scenery, perfect to give man’s best friend a good old runaround.  The park is open every day and entry is free (however, parking charges do apply).  Once again, throughout the park there is a host of activities for all the family to enjoy, and there is even an exciting dog activity trail.

We couldn’t talk about dog walks in Hampshire without mentioning, of course, the New Forest.  With 146 miles of public footpaths to discover, it’s very popular with a whole variety of different groups.  One in particular that offers a great route for you and your dog, beautiful views and varied terrain is Dibden Inclosure.  Other recommended places in the New Forest include Deerleap and Longdown (Southampton), Kings Hat and Culverley (New Forest).

When taking the dogs out in the countryside, it’s important to adhere to the countryside code.  Look out for signs that will give you relevant information as to whether or not your dog is allowed off the lead, or if, as is the case in some areas, they are not allowed (this could possibly be due to livestock being in the restricted areas).

We’d encourage everyone to take up dog walking, it’s free, very good for you and your dog’s health, it gets you out into the beautiful countryside and can even help you with your mood.

Quash those January blues with your barking best friend in gorgeous Hampshire!

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