Aldenham Country Park Reservoir Walk
Hertfordshire
Aldenham Country Park occupies 100 acres of parkland and woodland near Elstree, built around a reservoir excavated by French prisoners of war in 1795 to keep the Grand Union Canal supplied with water, where dogs must be kept on a lead at all times. This circuit of around 3km follows paths around the reservoir and through the surrounding parkland, known locally as 100 Aker Wood, passing the park's rare breeds farm, one of seventeen centres in the UK breeding endangered livestock such as Aldenham Longhorn cattle, Bagot goats and Norfolk Horn sheep. The going is flat and easy throughout on well used paths, with fishing and sailing taking place on the reservoir itself.
This is a dog friendly walk, though dogs must be kept on a lead throughout the park. Dogs are not permitted in certain signposted areas of the farm, where the rare breed animals are kept, or in the children's play areas, including the Adventure Playground, so plan to see those parts without your dog. The reservoir gives good views for a walk even though swimming is not the focus here, and the woodland offers shade in summer. A cafe and kiosk are on site, and the park is easily reached from north London and Hertfordshire.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 3.0 km (1.9 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr
- Walk Type
- Lake, Park
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- None
- Livestock Risk
- Low
- Facilities
- Cafe and kiosk on site; toilets at the visitor area.
- Parking
- Car park at Aldenham Country Park.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Aldenham Country Park Reservoir Walk, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in HertfordshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Aldenham Country Park Reservoir Walk dog friendly?
Aldenham Country Park welcomes dogs, earning a 6/10 rating on our dog friendly scale. The 3km circuit around the reservoir and through the surrounding parkland is flat and easy going, making it a pleasant outing, though there are some restrictions to be aware of before you visit.
Can dogs be off lead at Aldenham Country Park Reservoir Walk?
No — dogs must be kept on a lead throughout the park at all times. This applies across the full route, including the paths around the reservoir and through the woodland areas.
What should I know before visiting Aldenham Country Park Reservoir Walk with my dog?
As well as the lead rule, dogs are not permitted in certain signposted areas near the rare breeds farm, where animals such as Aldenham Longhorn cattle and Bagot goats are kept, or in the children's play areas including the Adventure Playground — so plan those sections as dog-free stops. Swimming in the reservoir isn't an option here, but the walk does pass fishing and sailing activity on the water, and there's a cafe and kiosk on site if you need a break.
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