Dog Walks in Melton Mowbray

Dog Walking in Melton Mowbray

Melton Mowbray is famous for pork pies and Stilton cheese, but this handsome market town in the north-east of Leicestershire also sits at the centre of some of the finest walking country in the county. The landscape here is classic English hunting country - wide, rolling fields divided by sturdy hedgerows, scattered copses, and quiet red-brick villages connected by a dense network of footpaths. For dog owners, the countryside around Melton offers spacious, open walking with a sense of freedom and emptiness that is increasingly hard to find in the Midlands.

Key Walks and Green Spaces

• Melton Country Park - A 57-acre park on the northern edge of the town, with meadows, ponds, a play area, and a network of paths through varied habitats. Dogs are welcome and can be off lead in designated areas. It is excellent for a shorter walk and is accessible year-round.
• The Jubilee Way - This long-distance path runs through the countryside south of Melton, linking to the Leicestershire Round and providing waymarked walking through rolling farmland and quiet villages.
• Burrough Hill - An Iron Age hillfort south-east of Melton, offering spectacular 360-degree views from its prominent summit. The walk up from the car park is short but rewarding, and the open hilltop is ideal for off-lead walking with good visibility.
• The Old Dalby Circuit - A popular circular walk through the hills west of Melton, passing through villages, along ridgelines, and through woodland. The terrain is moderately hilly with excellent views across the Vale of Belvoir.

Dog-Friendly Venues

Melton Mowbray has a strong selection of pubs, cafes, and tea rooms that welcome dogs. The town centre, particularly around the market place and the streets near St Mary's Church, has several independent establishments where dogs are permitted. The traditional pubs in the surrounding villages - particularly in the prettier settlements like Old Dalby, Somerby, and Ab Kettleby - are overwhelmingly dog-friendly, many serving excellent food alongside a warm welcome for walkers and their dogs. A visit to Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe is a Melton tradition, and you can eat your pie on the bench outside with your dog at your feet.

Practical Information

Melton Mowbray is reached via the A606 from Nottingham or the A607 from Leicester. The town has free and paid car parks in the centre, with good capacity. Burrough Hill has a small car park at the base of the hill. For countryside walks, parking is generally in village car parks or laybys. The clay soils of east Leicestershire become notoriously heavy in winter, so waterproof boots with good grip are essential between November and March. The exposed hilltops can also be windy, so pack a windproof layer. Summer and early autumn are the best seasons for walking in this area, when the paths are firm and the rolling countryside looks its finest.