Looking For A Dog Friendly Holiday? Here’s Our Favourite Dog-Friendly Walks & Activities near Abingdon
So, I don’t know about you but since the evenings have gotten lighter, the floods have past and nature’s beginning to bloom again, ALL I’ve wanted to do is get out and about with my dog (and watch Bridgerton but we won’t go in to that…). Obviously, it’s great to be able to get back out and enjoy your local area, and your pups fave sniff spots, but it hasn’t quite got the same sense of adventure as finding some fab new dog friendly accommodation and exploring somewhere different has it?
When it comes to dog friendly accommodation, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re looking for a self catering holiday cottage for a family holiday or a quick escape from it all with just you and your four-legged friend, we’ll have the right space for you. It goes without saying, we like to look after our canine guests just as well as we look after our human ones, providing beds for a comfy night sleep, towels for those post-adventure muddy paws and bowls ready for their favourite food.
But that’s enough about us, we’re not the only (p)awesome dog friendly place in Abingdon! When you’re planning a holiday with a dog, it’s nice to know what the area has to offer and to be able to plan ahead. And let me tell you, with all the glorious countryside, riverside walks and dog friendly pubs in Abingdon, you will be filling that itinerary easily! Here’s a little rundown to help you plan:
Walkies
Right from our front gate you can head up through the farmer’s fields and meet the river path. Depending on the time of year you might get to say hello to some sheep and if you’re lucky you might even spot a deer too. For a shorter stroll follow the river past the lock and all the way down to the bridge. If you exit the field through the gate in the left corner, you’ll find yourself at the bottom of our lane, a great little loop to start the day or kill off some evening energy! (about 30-40 mins).
If you head down our lane, you can join the river path and meander along to Culham, our neighbouring village. Make it a loop be heading back through the village and along a short strip of the main road, there is a pavement but watch out for cyclists. (about and hour and a half). If you follow the river a little further you will get to the next village of Sutton Courtney which is super scenic and has a couple of great pubs for a lunch pitstop, dog friendly of course! It is about the same distance to return via the river path or through the villages, so you can take your pick! (about 2 and a half hours, not including lunch).
Fancy something not quite so rural? You can take the scenic route to town. Half way down our lane, turn of to the right and you will reach Abingdon lock. Crossing the lock and weir will take you in to Abbey meadows park. This is also a great option if you’ve got children (human ones) as the path is pushchair or balance bike friendly and there is a giant play park for the kids to run riot! In the summer there is also a splash pad and outdoor pool in the abbey, perfect for cooling off! All 3 of these areas of the park do not permit dogs, so it might be preferable to be able to split the gang so someone can hang out with the pup and the kids can be safely supervised while they play.
Alas, I got sidetracked, if the play park is not your scene, stroll on by in to the Abbey gardens. While here, see if you can trace out the stones which mark the foundation lines of the medieval abbey. Head out of the top gate of the gardens and under the arch, you will emerge straight in to Abingdon town centre. (about 40 mins).
I could go on listing trails and parks but I’ll leave some for you to discover yourself. Talking of the town centre, let me highlight some of my favourite dog friendly spots Abingdon has to offer, to make sure you don’t miss out!
Coffee shops
If you’ve done the last walk I mentioned and entered town under the arch, go immediately right and the first place you’ll come across is Missing Bean. An independent, ethical coffee shop, working directly with coffee farms across the world and roasting the beans right here in Oxfordshire. Not only do they have great coffee, they also bake their own goods from sweet treats to sarnies. You’ll find their original café and roastery just off the Cowley road in Oxford itself. But if you stay in our dog friendly B&B rooms, you’ll also be able to enjoy their coffee as part of your breakfast in our cabin.
There are cafes a plenty in Abingdon centre so I’ll just give and honourable mention to a couple more. Throwing Buns behind the county hall building, named after Abingdon’s longstanding bun throwing tradition, always have a treat on hand for friendly pups. And if you want all things dog with a little café on the side, head to the Dog Spot. Café, shop, groomers, they’ve covered all bases, they’ve even got a dog menu in their café levelling up from your standard pup-cup! And of course, almost at the bottom of our lane, just over the bridge, is the riverside café. A wonderful spot for watching the boats go by and I personally like to treat myself to a cheeky ice cream while I’m there!
Pubs
Abingdon pubs are very much on the ball and know their market, so I’m pretty sure most of them welcome dogs. But for a small town there are A LOT of pubs so I’ll give you a quick rundown of some so you know what to expect, let’s start as close as possible…
The Nags Head – part of a small chain, The Nags Head takes the prize for best location. No not because its less than 10 minute walk from us, but because its perched right on the bridge with a large decked garden overlooking the river on both sides.
The Crown and Thistle, a coaching inn in a previous lifetime that now offers a pub, restaurant and function rooms in characterful grade two listed buildings. Although dogs are not allowed in the restaurant, you can enjoy anything off the menu in the bar area and courtyard, where pups are allowed. The menu is varied and the food looks great, I have only had the roast which I can highly recommend.
The King’s Head and Bell – a more relaxed atmosphere and a place I might find myself for a leisurely lunch. Their conservatory is a great spot to enjoy the sport on TV or for a game of darts (don’t worry their interactive boards will do the maths for you, and even offer up exciting games to ramp up the competition!) but the main pub has a more traditional vibe with a large fire place, exposed brickwork and quiet nooks to settle in to.
The Brewery Tap – in my mind, the Tap is the full pub package, and no unfortunately they have not paid me to say that! The balance of traditional pub without feeling stuffy and old, a great drinks selection and even better menu, not to mention the generous portions. Cosy with a fire inside in the Winter or steal a spot in the suntrap courtyard in Summer. If you’re reading this thinking you like the sound of the pub but you’re not a huge dog fan (come back and read the next blog, you’ll probably enjoy it more), they have got a restaurant area which is dog free.
Although with all that going on you could, you might not want to simply stick to Abingdon throughout your stay. So, zooming out on the map a little, here’s more of what’s on offer in dog friendly Oxfordshire…
White Horse Hill
The Uffington White Horse is a prehistoric hill figure that’s an impressive 110 m (360 ft) long! It’s formed from deep trenches filled with crushed white chalk. The figure is situated on the upper slopes of Whitehorse Hill and is just part of the unique complex of ancient remains that are found at White Horse Hill. Not only is the area steeped in history, but it is also the highest point in Oxfordshire. Managed by National Trust, there is a carpark with dog waste bins. Dos are to be kept of leads as there is often grazing livestock and nesting birds. (40 min drive from Kingfisher Barn).
Wittenham Clumps
One of South Oxfordshire’s most iconic landmarks. Standing proudly beside the River Thames, the distinctive pair of peaks (Round Hill and Castle Hill) can be seen from miles away. These are the oldest known planted hilltop beeches in England, dating back over 300 years. The steep incline, weaving pathways and woodland sniffs are sure to tire out your pooch! There is a free carpark with dog waste bins. We have come across cows a number of times while visiting the clumps but it is easy to give them a wide birth. (20 min drive from Kingfisher Barn).
Blenheim Palace Dog Trail
Want to treat your dog to the touch of royalty they deserve? Dogs are welcome in Blenheim Palace’s 2,000 acres of Parkland, the first area of the Walled Garden and the Pantry Café. Why not follow their new dog trail and discover stories of dogs at Blenheim Palace over the centuries – from the Spaniels that once lived in the Palace to the dogs depicted in the tapestries and paintings. Blenheim ask owners to keep dogs on leads for safety and the protection of wildlife and livestock in the Park. They provide dog waste bins, water bowls and even doggy ice cream! (30 min drive from Kingfisher Barn).
Cotswold Wildlife Park
Another great spot if you’re visiting with the family, dogs are able to enjoy the outside areas of the park (which there are plenty of!). Although they are not allowed in the restaurant there are plenty of picnic spots and outdoor seating areas to take a break. The wildlife park is set in 160 acres of landscaped parkland and gardens and exhibits over 260 different species of animals. As if that isn’t enough, they also have an adventure playground, sky maze and train to keep the (human) kids entertained! (45 min drive from Kingfisher Barn).
Oxford & Westgate Shopping Centre
If the city life is more your cup of tea, Oxford is certainly one not to miss! Although the official walking tours are often not dog friendly, you can pick your own route and wander amongst the University buildings dotted throughout the city. University Parks and Christchurch meadows are gorgeous green spots in the city centre where dogs are welcome, on best behaviour of course!
You can even take your dog shopping with you, Oxford’s Westgate shopping centre is dog friendly. They don’t even have to hang around outside the shops, there’s whole bunch of retailers that welcome dogs in their stores. (25 min drive from Kingfisher Barn).
After a day in the city, coming back to the serenity of Kingfisher Barn will be the perfect way to wind down for both you and your pup. And if you’ve continued reading this far, I assume that means we’re going to get to meet you and your pup pal sometime soon and we can’t wait!