The Wye through Hereford, the Malvern Hills, Mortimer Forest and Hergest Ridge - the best dog-friendly walks in Herefordshire.
Updated
By Rob Griffiths12 July 2026 · 9 min read
Herefordshire is one of England's great unsung counties for a dog: a green, thinly-populated borderland of cider orchards, slow rivers and quiet hills between the Malverns and the Welsh frontier. You can walk the River Wye through the cathedral city in the morning, climb the open Malvern ridge for a county-spanning view in the afternoon, and finish in a dog-friendly cider pub. It is farming country, so the lead comes out near livestock, but the welcome for dogs is genuine and the crowds are blessedly thin. Here is where to go.
Is Herefordshire dog-friendly?
Yes, and it is one of the most relaxed counties in England to explore with a dog. It is sparsely populated, criss-crossed with quiet footpaths and bridleways, and well supplied with dog-friendly country pubs, many serving the local cider. The county town of Hereford has easy riverside walking, the Malverns give a proper hill day, and there are forests, country parks and National Trust estates with waymarked trails for gentler outings.
The thing to plan around is livestock. This is cattle and sheep country, and many walks cross grazing fields, so keep your dog on a lead near stock and be especially careful around cattle with calves. Stick to the forests, parks and riverside paths if you want easier, lower-stress walking with a dog that is still learning its recall.
What are the best dog-friendly places in Herefordshire?
Herefordshire dog-friendly highlights
HEREFORD · CITY
Hereford & the River Wye Editor's pick
Cathedral-city riverside walking
Easy river walks
City base
Dog-friendly cafes
📍TypeCity & riverside
🐾Dog accessWelcome on riverside paths
🥾TerrainRiverbank, parkland, town
⭐HighlightThe Wye through the city
Hereford makes an easy, dog-friendly base in the centre of the county, and its best walking follows the River Wye straight through the city. The riverside paths from the old bridge run past the cathedral and out along the Greenway and into open meadows, giving a level, scenic walk you can pick up from the centre. The cathedral close and the city's parks are pleasant for a stroll, and there are plenty of dog-friendly cafes and pubs. It is a practical hub for reaching the Malverns, the Golden Valley and the Welsh border country.
EASTERN EDGE · RIDGE
The Malvern Hills
An open ridge with views across two counties
Ridge walking
Huge views
Open access
📍TypeGrazed hill common
🐾Dog accessWelcome, lead near grazing sheep
🥾TerrainRidge paths, steep slopes
⭐HighlightThe walk to Worcestershire Beacon
The Malvern Hills rise abruptly along Herefordshire's eastern boundary, a narrow spine of ancient rock that gives some of the biggest, most accessible views in the West Midlands. A network of paths climbs from car parks on both flanks to the ridge, where you can walk for miles with Herefordshire spread out to the west and the Severn plain to the east. The hills are grazed common land, so keep your dog on a lead near the sheep. There are dog-friendly cafes in Great Malvern at the foot of the hills for afterwards.
CENTRAL · COUNTRY PARK
Queenswood Country Park & Bodenham Lake
An arboretum hilltop and a lakeside reserve
Easy woodland walks
Arboretum trails
Lakeside birdlife
📍TypeCountry park & lake
🐾Dog accessWelcome on trails, lead by the lake
🥾TerrainWoodland paths, lakeside
⭐HighlightArboretum and lake views
Queenswood, on a hilltop between Hereford and Leominster, is the county's only country park and arboretum, with easy waymarked trails through a collection of trees from around the world and views over the surrounding countryside. Just below it, Bodenham Lake is a nature reserve with a lakeside path and bird hides. Together they make a gentle, accessible day out with a dog: firm paths, a cafe, and shade among the trees. Keep your dog on a lead near the lake to protect the waterbirds and the reserve's wildlife.
NORTH · FOREST
Mortimer Forest
Quiet forest trails on the Shropshire border
Forest trails
Shade on hot days
Hilltop views
📍TypeForestry England forest
🐾Dog accessWelcome on waymarked trails
🥾TerrainForest track, hill path
⭐HighlightViews from High Vinnalls
Mortimer Forest spreads across the hills on the Herefordshire and Shropshire border just south-west of Ludlow, and it is the pick of the north of the county for a forest walk. Forestry England waymarked trails climb through conifer and broadleaf woodland to the open viewpoint of High Vinnalls, with long views over the borderland. The tracks are firm and well-signed, there is a car park, and the woodland gives welcome shade in summer. Dogs are welcome on the trails; keep them close where the forest meets grazed land at the edges.
WEST · RIDGE
Hergest Ridge & Kington
A breezy open ridge on the Welsh border
Open ridge walking
Wild ponies
Border views
📍TypeOpen common & ridge
🐾Dog accessOn-lead near ponies & sheep
🥾TerrainBroad ridge track, common
⭐HighlightThe whaleback ridge walk
Hergest Ridge rises west of the little town of Kington right on the Welsh border, a broad grassy whaleback crossed by an easy track that forms part of the Offa's Dyke Path. It is open common grazed by sheep and semi-wild ponies, with huge skies and views into both England and Wales, and the gentle gradient makes it a surprisingly easy hill walk. Keep your dog on a lead near the ponies and sheep. Kington itself is a friendly walkers' town with dog-welcoming pubs and cafes at the foot of the ridge.
BROMYARD · NT ESTATE
Brockhampton Estate
A National Trust estate of ancient woodland
Woodland walks
Medieval manor
Way-marked trails
📍TypeNational Trust estate
🐾Dog accessOn-lead on estate trails
🥾TerrainParkland, ancient woodland
⭐HighlightLower Brockhampton manor
Brockhampton, a National Trust estate near Bromyard, wraps a moated medieval manor house in parkland, orchards and ancient woodland, with several waymarked walking trails. Dogs on a lead are welcome on the estate's wider trails through the woods and parkland, which are at their best in spring bluebell season and autumn colour. It is an easy, pretty walk with a dog, with a cafe and the timber-framed manor to see. Check the current dog policy for the formal gardens and any areas with grazing livestock when you arrive.
Can you walk dogs on the Malvern Hills?
Yes. The Malvern Hills are open-access common land and one of the best dog walks in the region, with paths climbing to a long ridge from car parks on both the Herefordshire and Worcestershire sides. Dogs are welcome, but the hills are grazed by sheep, so keep your dog on a lead near livestock and clean up after them to protect the grazing. The tops are exposed, so carry water for the dog on a warm day, as there is little shade and few reliable streams on the ridge.
Tips for visiting Herefordshire with a dog
01
Lead up around livestock
Most of Herefordshire is working farmland, and many footpaths cross grazing fields. Keep your dog on a lead near sheep and cattle, and give cows with calves a wide berth.
02
Use the parks and forests for easier walks
Queenswood Country Park and Mortimer Forest have firm, waymarked trails that are more relaxed than open farmland, with shade and parking.
03
Base yourself in Hereford or a border town
Hereford gives a central base with riverside walks; Kington and Great Malvern put you at the foot of the best ridges, all with dog-friendly places to eat.
04
Try the river walks in poor weather
The Wye paths through Hereford are low, level and sheltered, a good option when the Malverns or Hergest Ridge are wild and exposed.
05
Sample the cider pubs
Herefordshire is cider country and many of its country pubs are dog-friendly. They make a perfect, sheltered end to a walk with a dog.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Are dogs allowed on the Malvern Hills?▾
Yes. The Malvern Hills are open-access common land where dogs are welcome, with paths up to the ridge from car parks on both the Herefordshire and Worcestershire sides. Keep your dog on a lead near the grazing sheep, carry water for the exposed tops, and clean up after them to protect the common.
Q02Where are the best easy dog walks in Herefordshire?▾
For gentle walks, head to the River Wye paths through Hereford, the waymarked trails at Queenswood Country Park, the lakeside path at Bodenham Lake, or the forest tracks in Mortimer Forest. These are lower, firmer and more sheltered than the open ridges and farmland.
Q03Is Herefordshire good for an off-lead dog?▾
In the right places. The forests and country parks like Mortimer Forest and Queenswood are the most relaxed spots for a well-behaved off-lead dog. On open farmland and the grazed hills and ridges, keep your dog on a lead near sheep, cattle and the semi-wild ponies on Hergest Ridge.
Q04Where should I base myself in Herefordshire with a dog?▾
Hereford is the best central base, with riverside walks and dog-friendly cafes, and easy access to the Malverns, the forests and the Welsh border. For the hills, Kington sits below Hergest Ridge and Great Malvern below the Malvern Hills, both with dog-welcoming places to stay and eat.
Live prices and availability for stays that genuinely welcome dogs.
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