Cliveden Woodland and the Thames
Buckinghamshire
Cliveden is a National Trust estate of 375 acres above a bend in the Thames near Taplow, laid out over three centuries by a succession of grand owners and famous as the former home of the Astor family. Away from the formal garden, around 300 acres of woodland and riverbank are open for walking, and this 4.8km circular route, the estate's own wood and river trail, follows grassy and flint-studded earth paths through the woods, on lead briefly near the start before dogs can range more freely, before dropping down to the Thames towpath and back up through the trees. The going is largely flat with a few short, gentle slopes, gaining roughly 60 metres over the full loop, and there are views down to the river from several points along the way.
This is a dog friendly estate with high off-lead potential: across the woodland and river paths, a well behaved dog can be let off the lead under close control, other than a short stretch near the start where a lead is asked for. There is no grazing livestock in the woods, and the Thames gives a dog plenty of safe access to drink or paddle from the towpath. The woodland canopy provides shade for most of the route. Cliveden operates a traffic light system explained in a dog walker's guide available at the car park, and there are water bowls and waste bins at several points. Entry requires National Trust membership or a ticket, and the Woodland car park is the starting point for this walk.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.8 km (3.0 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 35 min
- Walk Type
- Woodland, River, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Conservatory Cafe and Woodland Lounge refreshment kiosk; water bowls for dogs; toilets near the visitor centre.
- Parking
- Cliveden Woodland car park, Cliveden Road, Taplow; National Trust members free, charge for non-members.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Cliveden Woodland and the Thames, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in BuckinghamshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Cliveden Woodland and the Thames dog friendly?
Yes, this is one of the best dog walks in the area, and it scores 8 out of 10 for dog friendliness. Most of the 300 acres of woodland and riverbank allow dogs off lead under close control, with water bowls and waste bins provided throughout. The one real caveat is a short on-lead stretch near the start, and the need for National Trust membership or an entry ticket.
Can dogs be off lead at Cliveden Woodland and the Thames?
High off-lead potential across the woodland and riverside paths, where a traffic light system explained in the estate's dog walker's guide shows exactly where dogs can run free. A short section near the start of the walk asks for dogs to stay on a lead. There is no grazing livestock in the woods, so the main things to watch for are other visitors and cyclists.
What should I know before visiting Cliveden Woodland and the Thames with my dog?
Entry requires National Trust membership or a paid ticket, and the walk starts from the Woodland car park rather than the main visitor car park by the house. Pick up the dog walker's guide there for the traffic light system showing on and off lead sections. Water bowls and waste bins are provided at several points, including near the car park and by the river.
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