Dog Walks in Ashby-de-la-Zouch

Dog Walking in Ashby-de-la-Zouch

Ashby-de-la-Zouch is a charming market town in the north-west of Leicestershire, set on the edge of the National Forest and overlooked by the romantic ruins of its medieval castle. The town has a distinctly different character to the rest of Leicestershire - its proximity to the Derbyshire and Staffordshire borders gives it a slightly more hilly, wooded feel, and the expanding National Forest is steadily adding new woodland and trails to an already strong walking offer. For dog owners, Ashby combines good town-centre amenities with excellent access to both established and newly created walking country.

Key Walks and Green Spaces

• The National Forest - Ashby sits at the heart of this ambitious project to create a new forest across 200 square miles of the Midlands. Numerous new woodland plantations have been established around the town, many with well-designed walking trails. Hicks Lodge, just south of Ashby, is a Forestry England site with waymarked trails through maturing woodland - dogs are welcome off lead in most areas.
• Ashby Woulds Heritage Trail - A converted railway line running through the former coalfield landscape south-west of the town. The flat, surfaced trail provides easy walking through a landscape that is being transformed by new tree planting and habitat creation.
• Bath Grounds - A riverside park in the heart of Ashby, following Gilwiskaw Brook through the town centre. The park has mature trees, open lawns, and well-maintained paths - ideal for a quick walk or a morning stroll with your dog.
• Calke Abbey - This National Trust property, a few miles south of Ashby, offers 600 acres of historic parkland with ancient trees, ponds, and grassland. Dogs are welcome on leads in the parkland. The slightly decaying grandeur of the house and its overgrown gardens create a uniquely atmospheric setting for a walk.
• Staunton Harold - The reservoir and surrounding woodland near Calke provide further walking options, with dogs welcome on the main paths.

Dog-Friendly Venues

Ashby has a lively high street with a good mix of independent cafes, pubs, and restaurants, many of which welcome dogs. The Market Street and Bath Street area is particularly well served, with several cafes providing outdoor seating and water bowls for dogs. The pubs in the town are generally welcoming, and the surrounding villages and country pubs offer further options for post-walk refreshments. The cafe at Hicks Lodge is popular with walkers and cyclists and welcomes dogs at its outdoor tables.

Practical Information

Ashby is reached via the A42/M42 from the east or the A511 from Burton upon Trent. The town has several car parks, mostly free or with low charges. Hicks Lodge has a Forestry England car park with modest charges. Calke Abbey car park charges apply for non-National Trust members. The National Forest trails are generally well surfaced and suitable for year-round walking. The terrain is gently undulating rather than flat, with enough variety to keep walks interesting without being strenuous. As new woodland matures across the National Forest, the walking options around Ashby continue to improve year on year.