6 best dog walks in Cheshire (and a few pooch-friendly pub stops)

Planning a dog walk in Cheshire? Don’t sweat it (although you may do, depending on the energy levels of your fluffy friend…) - come on a stroll with us as we walk you through some of the best dog walks Cheshire has to offer.

So, what about it? Well, when the county isn’t rocking its black framed Tudor-style houses, listed buildings and Roman amphitheatres (there’s actually just one), it’s showcasing rolling hills, age-old landscapes and quaint canals. Okay, it’s doing both at the same time, but you get the idea - there’s a lot to get up to in this county. So, if you’re about to house sit in Cheshire and you need some walkies inspo, there’s no need to wander elsewhere…

Best circular dog walks in Cheshire

Wincle circular walk

Ever heard of Wincle village in Cheshire? It’s an adorable little homestead and civil parish, perfect for walkies with your equally cute fluffy buddy. Sitting in the Cheshire East district of the county, the village is home to a pub, brewery, school, plus a few listed buildings including St. Michael’s Church, which is surrounded by some of the best dog walks in Cheshire East. While the village is certainly a looker and well worth a mooch with your pooch, you could take a circular walk nearby for impressive countryside views. Start at the village and pass through Shell Brook valley - a remote open space perfect for burning off all that energy of your pup pal.. If you head into the depths of the valley, the Shell Brook itself cuts down into the Millstone grit - the Gritstone Trail. You don’t need to head to the bottom of the valley to find the trail though - the walk joins it well above the valley floor. Check out Rudyard Lake, ideal for nature lovers with its overgrown wildflowers along its banks.

• Estimated time to walk: 3 hours
• Distance: 4 miles

Best woodland walk

Delamere Forest and Old Pale Hill

With plenty of loam for scurrying, nooks for sniffing and birds for chasing, sometimes you just can’t beat a woodland walk with your four-legged pal. And it turns out that this walk has a built-in history lesson. So, before we get into the walk itself, let’s take a trip down memory lane (and don’t worry, we’ll keep it brief). If you take the stroll up Old Pale Hill in Delamere Forest, you’ll find an information plaque. It’s not just any old plaque though - it’s beautifully written and journeys you through time millennia ago (think glaciers, the Iron Age, Romans and King Alfred the Great) - the perfect read with Snowdonia, the Pennines and Clwydian Range in the distance! Now, onto the walk…

Start at Delamere train station, head left through the Station House Cafe’s car park, onto the path that runs next to the railway line and then the road to the left. Pass the Delamere Forest cafe and follow the trail uphill to reach the top of Old Pale Hill (and remember to check out the plaque!). Continue straight, along the path that runs parallel to the phone masts on your left and choose the path to the right when it forks - this will take you downhill. 

Follow the grassy then stone path with woodland to your left, and you should reach an unmade road. Take a left, then carry on straight until you find a footpath signposted for Barnsbridge Gates on the Sandstone Trail - take a right here. Take the second path ahead and go straight until you spot signs for Baker Way where you should bear right. Cross the railway bridge and follow the signposts to the Sandstone Trail and Delamere Loop. Keep going straight (take a look to your left and you might see Blackmere poking through), stroll past the camping and caravanning club, then over the railway bridge and back to the station. And after all the walking, you and your fluffy pal will probably need a pit stop. Head to the Fishpool Inn just down the road - it’s a dog-friendly pub and proud winners of dining awards.

• Estimated time to walk: 2.5 hours (plus plaque reading time!)
• Distance: 4.5 miles
• Nearby parking: Delamere Station

Best country park dog walk in Cheshire

Marbury Country Park

If you’re after an easy-access, flat walk in Cheshire, trot along to Marbury Country Park with your pooch pal. It’s in the heart of Northwich Community Woodlands (so head there for a ramble, too, if you’re feeling adventurous) which is part of the Mersey Forest. What was once partly an industrial area, work has been done to turn the land between Marbury and Northwich green and healthy. So, onto Marbury Country Park - enjoy a laid-back stroll with your four-legged buddy along the park’s open paths, woodlands, and check out the views across Budworth Mere if you’re strolling along that neck of the woods. Take the laid-back life up a notch and stop by the picnic area for a sit-down and doggy treat refuel (for your pup, not you…). Got little ones alongside? Head to the play area! And if you’re after more country park walks in Cheshire, check out the Countess of Chester Country Park just near (you guessed it) the city of Chester.

• Estimated time to walk: The estate stretches 196 acres, but of course we’re not suggesting you trek the whole length! Instead, choose the distance that suits you and loop back around.
• Distance: See above!
• Nearby parking: Marbury Country Park car park.

Best waterside dog walk in Cheshire

Nantwich, River Weaver and Shropshire Union canal

Did somebody say two rivers in one? Okay technically one is a river and the other is a canal, but you really get bang for your buck with this pleasant stroll - one of the best dog walks in Nantwich! One of the best places to walk dogs in Cheshire if you love to be waterside starts at St. Anne’s Lane car park. With your four-legged best buddy at the ready, choose the path which runs from St. Anne’s Lane, cross the footbridge across the River Weaver and turn left. Then, follow the Nantwich Riverside Loop signs until you cross over again on another foot bridge, bear right and walk below the railway bridge. 

Soak up the views of the river as you ramble and you’ll eventually come to Nantwich Lake which was built in the 1970s. Then, cross the footbridge and turn right to find Shrewbridge Road, head onto the pavement and take a right again. You should then see a bridleway and a Nantwich Riverside Loop sign. Stroll across the field, through a metal gate and over a small bridge. Bear to the right and follow the arrow to the metal gate at the top right of the field. Go straight and over the railway line, follow the path and you should face Shropshire Union canal. Follow the towpath, turn right and follow the canal path back to the town centre.

• Estimated time to walk: 1.5 hours
• Distance: 3 miles approx.
• Nearby parking: St. Anne’s Lane Car Park or the parking area at Shrewbridge Road

Best off-leash dog walk in Cheshire

Brereton Country Park to the Swettenham Arms

While we’re sure your appreciative pooch will love any of these walks, sometimes you just can’t beat an off-leash run around. Have a nice dog walk in Cheshire with your four-legged buddy and head on this route from Brereton Country Park to the Swettenham Arms, where you’ll find ample chances to let them off the lead. From the country park, take a left onto the road, following it down to the crossroads where you’ll cross straight over. Find the small lane opposite and follow straight, where eventually you’ll find a lovely dog-friendly pub, the Swettenham Arms. If your pooch is thirsty, don’t sweat it - the people of this pub give out water bowls, so your pup can top-up while you do.

• Estimated time to walk: 1.5 hours
• Distance: 3 miles
• Nearby parking: Brereton Country Park car park

Best dog walks in Chester, Cheshire

The Meadows, Chester

If you’re dog sitting in Chester and you’re after a local stroll with your new fluffy friend, head to The Meadows - a super chilled dog walk in Cheshire. They’re a mixture of grasslands and wetlands right next to Chester’s River Dee and great views of the town centre. Why do we think this is one of the best dog walks near Chester? Well you can walk the circular route in about 30 minutes, ideal for dog walkers alongside a pooch who doesn’t need hours of exercise to get their tails wagging! And if the weather’s right, take a picnic. This spot is perfect for kicking back and relaxing with your four-legged friend. Just take a blanket, a few snacks for you and doggy treats for your buddy, and watch the world go by as boats pass along the river, wildlife lovers peruse the meadows, and the bustle of Chester town rumbles on in the distance. Start your ramble along the footpath by the suspension bridge, from Bottoms Lane, the patch of land opposite the sailing club or the main entrance through Lower Park Road.

• Estimated time to walk: 30 minutes
• Distance: 1.5 miles approx.
• Nearby parking: Little Roodee, CH1 1SL

Are there any dog walks in Cheshire with pubs?

Pheasant Inn

Top off your walks with dogs in Cheshire with this dog-friendly spot for food and drinks, sitting in the heart of the countryside and a 30-minute walk from Peckforton Castle, and nearly 5 miles from Beeston Castle and Woodland Park.

The Windmill

Next to Middlewood Way and the towpath of the Macclesfield Canal, this spot is the perfect place to refuel, where pups and Sapiens alike are welcomed with open arms.

The Roebuck Inn

The ideal watering hole for you and your four-legged pal - order a dog bottled beer (which is basically a meaty stock), while you enjoy something refreshing. Mobberly sits between Wilmslow and Knutsford, and is the ideal spot for fresh air and green views with your best furry friend.

Looking for more top walkies spots up north?

Soak up the views of rolling hills and tread the path of history with your fluffy pals right by your side with these dog-friendly walks in the Peak District.