Alice Holt Forest
Hampshire
Alice Holt Forest is a working Forestry England woodland of oak, pine and sweet chestnut on the Hampshire and Surrey border near Farnham, with a history going back to Roman times and later use as a royal hunting forest supplying oak for naval warships. The Lodge Pond trail, wide enough for dogs to range off lead through the trees, is a 4km waymarked loop from the main visitor centre that follows purple markers through mixed woodland to Lodge Pond, thought to have been dug by medieval monks as a fishery for breeding carp. The paths are mostly unsurfaced woodland tracks with some steps, muddy after rain, and the walk takes around an hour to an hour and a quarter at an easy pace with gentle undulation rather than any real climbing.
This dog friendly forest lets a dog run properly once away from the visitor centre: dogs need to be on a lead in the central hub and on the play trails, but are welcome off lead in the wider forest if kept under control, and Lodge Pond is a good spot for a dog to cool off. There is no livestock in the forest, so recall is the main concern, alongside mountain bikers who share some tracks. Forest Table, the cafe by the visitor centre, has indoor and outdoor seating and hot and cold food, with toilets nearby. Parking charges apply, rising on busy weekends and school holidays.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.0 km (2.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 1 hr 15 min
- Walk Type
- Woodland, Lake, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Forest Table cafe (indoor and outdoor seating, hot and cold food) and toilets near the visitor centre.
- Parking
- Pay and display car park at the visitor centre, Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham; charges rise on weekends and school holidays.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Alice Holt Forest, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Riverside Cottage - Winchester
Sleeps 8 · 1 dog · Enclosed garden
from £2,570 / 7 nights
The Bolt Hole - Hayling Island
Sleeps 8 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £1,565 / 7 nights
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All dog friendly stays in HampshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Alice Holt Forest dog friendly?
Alice Holt Forest is a great choice for a day out with your dog, earning a solid 8/10 on our dog-friendly rating. The wider forest is open to dogs, and the Lodge Pond trail gives them plenty of room to roam through oak, pine and sweet chestnut woodland. The Forest Table cafe by the visitor centre has both indoor and outdoor seating, so you won't be left standing in the car park while you warm up after a muddy walk.
Can dogs be off lead at Alice Holt Forest?
Yes — once you're away from the visitor centre hub and the play trails, dogs are welcome off lead in the wider forest as long as they're kept under control. There's no livestock in the forest, so the main things to be mindful of are mountain bikers sharing some of the tracks and having a reliable recall. Lodge Pond itself is a good spot for a dog to take a dip and cool off.
What should I know before visiting Alice Holt Forest with my dog?
Dogs need to be kept on a lead in the central hub area and on the play trails, so it's worth getting through those sections before letting them loose. The paths on the Lodge Pond trail are mostly unsurfaced woodland tracks with some steps, and they can get muddy after rain, so suitable footwear is a good idea. Parking is pay and display at the visitor centre in Bucks Horn Oak, and charges go up on busy weekends and during school holidays, so it's worth planning ahead if you're visiting at peak times.
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