Haigh Woodland Park
Greater Manchester
Haigh Woodland Park surrounds Haigh Hall, the former seat of the Earls of Balcarres, on 350 acres of mature woodland, walled gardens and landscaped grounds on the edge of Wigan. No livestock grazes the estate, giving a dog free rein on its many miles of way marked trails. The estate has around 20 miles of trails in total, and this roughly 8km loop links the Kitchen Courtyard with Haigh Hall itself, taking in the walled garden, mixed woodland and open parkland on the way. The paths are well made throughout, mostly surfaced or firm woodland track, with gentle climbs rather than any serious ascent, making it accessible for a good range of fitness levels.
This is a dog friendly park, and dogs are welcome on most of the trails, with moderate off lead potential through the quieter woodland away from the courtyard and cafe areas. Dogs should be kept on a lead near the playgrounds and around the food areas by the courtyard, where families gather. There is no livestock in the park. The woodland gives good shade in summer, and there is a miniature railway and golf course elsewhere in the park that dogs should be kept away from. The cafe at the courtyard serves light meals and welcomes dogs outside, and parking on site is pay and display.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 8.0 km (5.0 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 2 hr 30 min
- Walk Type
- Woodland, Park, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Cafe at the Kitchen Courtyard (dogs welcome outside); toilets.
- Parking
- Pay and display car park at Haigh Woodland Park, School Lane (WN2 1PE).
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Haigh Woodland Park, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Cross Keys Inn Cottages - One Dorchester Drive
Sleeps 5 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £423 / 7 nights
Meadow Cottage At Swarbrick Hall Farm
Sleeps 10 · 1 dog · Enclosed garden
from £1,917 / 7 nights
Booking links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. Prices are a guide only and change with dates and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Haigh Woodland Park dog friendly?
Haigh Woodland Park is a great choice for dogs, earning a rating of 8 out of 10. Dogs are welcome on most of the trails across the 350-acre estate, and the cafe at the Kitchen Courtyard welcomes dogs outside, making it easy to round off a walk with a coffee or light meal.
Can dogs be off lead at Haigh Woodland Park?
There is good off lead potential through the quieter woodland areas of the park, and the absence of livestock across the estate makes this easier than at many comparable spots. That said, dogs should be kept on a lead near the playgrounds, around the cafe and courtyard areas where families congregate, and away from the miniature railway and golf course.
What should I know before visiting Haigh Woodland Park with my dog?
The park has around 20 miles of waymarked trails in total, with the featured 8km loop taking in woodland, walled gardens and open parkland on well-surfaced, accessible paths. Parking is pay and display at the car park on School Lane (WN2 1PE), and the woodland canopy offers useful shade on warmer days.
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