Mother’s Day walks: 11 dog-friendly walks to enjoy with your mum and pooch
Date published: 27 Feb 2023
Mother’s Day is always just on the cusp of spring and there’s no better time to get outside with your family than on a good walk. For those with pets, choosing a walk that both mums and dogs can enjoy may be a challenge. So our list of Mother’s Day walks is suitable for Fidos of any age, and for mums both young and old.
1. Felbrigg Church and Icehouse Walk
Location: Norfolk
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2.5 miles
Duration: Two hours
For mums looking for a little history on their dog walk, the circular Felbrigg Hall and Icehouse Walk is the one for you. Located in Norfolk, you’ll pass historic buildings dating back to the 18th century, as well as walking through woodlands, open fields and lakes. The on-site tea room is ideal for a Mothering Sunday treat of afternoon tea.
Starting point: Felbrigg Hall Car Park, Norwich NR11 8PP
2. Chipping Norton to Over Norton
Location: Oxfordshire
Difficulty: Easy
Walk length: 2.5 miles
Duration: 1.5 hours
If it’s pretty Cotswolds views that you’re after, then this easy circular walk from Chipping Norton to Over Norton and back will delight. For a gentle mother-child outing, the farmland kissing gates and bucolic country scenes are as charming as you could want. There’s a short ladder-stile with a gap alongside to suit most dogs and you may want Fido on the lead through cattle-filled fields.
Starting point: New St, Chipping Norton OX7 5LJ
3. Catbells Circular
Location: Lake District
Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 3.5 miles
Duration: Three hours
The Catbells Circular is fairly easy by Lake District standards but provides some of the most iconic panoramas in the national park. Soak up the sweeping views of Keswick, Derwentwater and Borrowdale as you, your mum and your four-legged friend take the 451 metre journey up to the top of Catbells. This walk will set you up nicely for a pub lunch at one of Keswick’s many dog-friendly inns.
Starting point: Hawes End, Keswick CA12 5UB
4. Cheddar Gorge
Location: Somerset
Difficulty: Medium
Distance: Four miles
Duration: Three hours
There are some steeper climbs on this otherwise moderate walk so make sure mums and dogs are fit and healthy. You’ll be rewarded for your efforts with incredible views of Somerset’s dramatic cliffs and stalactite caverns, passing through woodland and open fields around England’s largest gorge. Dog’s should be kept on a lead as there are some drop-off points around the Cheddar Gorge. Don’t forget to treat yourself to a trip to the cheesery before leaving.
Starting point: National Trust Visitor Centre, Cheddar Gorge Lookout Tower, The Cliffs, Cheddar BS27 3QS
5. Old Harry Rocks
Location: Dorset
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 3.5 miles
Duration: One hour
The Old Harry Rocks walk in Dorset’s Studland takes you out to one of the most famous and iconic landmarks on the South Coast. It is part of the Jurassic World Heritage Site and is managed by the National Trust, with unique rock formations and wildlife to spot along the route. The walk is fairly gentle and on easy terrain, but due to the height of the cliffs it is advisable to keep dogs safe on a lead.
Starting point: South Beach Car Park, Manor Rd, Studland, Swanage BH19 3AU
6. Vindolanda and Hadrian’s Wall
Location: Northumberland
Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 6.5 miles
Duration: Three hours
If you’re planning a mother's day staycation in Northumberland, dog-friendly walks at the iconic Hadrian’s Wall are a must. The Vindolanda and Hadrian’s Wall walk starts at The Sill, the north’s National Landscape Discovery Centre. It takes you over varied terrain of muddy paths, tracks and country roads, past the Roman Fort of Vindolanda and along a section of the wall. Keep dogs on leads when near livestock.
Starting point: The Sill, Once Brewed, Hexham NE47 7AN
7. Hardcastle Crags and Hebden Water Circular
Location: Yorkshire
Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 2.5 miles
Duration: 1.5 hours
Spend a happy Mother’s Day in Happy Valley on this gorgeous Hardcastle Crags and Hebden Water Circular walk. Through the wooded Pennine valley of Hardcastle Crags, you’ll need your walking boots as the walk takes in muddy and rocky trails. There are also some flights of stone steps to navigate, as well as a riverside path to enjoy. The views from the top of the ridge are awe-inspiring; some of the best in Yorkshire.
Starting point: National Trust Midgehole Car Park, Midgehole Rd, Hebden Bridge HX7 7AL
8. Charles Dickens and Higham Walk
Location: Kent
Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 6.5 miles
Duration: 3.5 hours
Walk in the footsteps of Charles Dickens on this marshland and countryside walk that inspired the spooky openings of Great Expectations. Charles Dickens and Higham Walk takes you through pretty country lanes and skirts around marsh areas and landmarks that Dickens would have known well. After the walk, take mum and dog to nearby Rochester, which has a memorial to the great writer in the cathedral, as well as hosting an annual Dickens festival!
Starting point: Higham Train Station, School Ln, Higham, Rochester ME3 7JQ
9. Padstow to Harlyn Bay
Location: Cornwall
Difficulty: Hard
Distance: Seven miles
Duration: Four hours
It’s almost an impossible task to pick ‘the best’ walk on Cornwall’s section of the South West Coast Path. This walk from Padstow to Harlyn Bay is just one of the region’s stunning coastal hikes. For hard-working mums we love the option to eat tasty seafood in Padstow and break up the walk with a stop at one of Cornwall’s gorgeous dog-friendly sandy beaches. Dogs will be welcomed in the pubs along the route too, making it ideal for the whole family.
Starting point: Padstow Harbour Car Park, Riverside, Padstow PL28 8BY
10. King Arthur’s Cave
Location: Gloucestershire
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 5.5 miles
Duration: 2.5 hours
This mainly gentle walk is surprisingly varied, with much of it ambling alongside the River Wye and through simple forest trails. Pass an impressive suspension bridge that crosses the river (perhaps watching the canoes float past underneath), and take a final steep climb up to King Arthur’s Cave. Afterwards if you still have the energy, a hike up Symonds Yat Rock is recommended for absolutely top-notch views of the forested Wye Valley.
Starting point: Royal Lodge, Symonds Yat East, Ross-on-Wye HR9 6JL
11. Holyrood Park to Arthur’s Seat
Location: Midlothian
Difficulty: Moderate
Walk length: Three miles
Duration: 1.5 hours
Blow the cobwebs away on Mothering Sunday with this short blast of a walk through Holyrood Park to Arthur’s Seat. Edinburgh as a whole is a fantastic spot for a long weekend treat, with the castle offering guided tours from its proud perch above the city and lots of great dog-friendly cafes in the city. This hike takes in the best views in town, but if the trek up Arthur’s Seat isn’t for you then Holyrood Park has plenty of easier trails to enjoy.
Starting point: Holyrood Palace, Horse Wynd, Edinburgh EH8 8DU
