Ickworth Park and the Tea Party Oak Walk
Suffolk
Ickworth is a neoclassical house near Bury St Edmunds, its huge domed rotunda begun in 1795 by the Earl of Bristol to display an art collection later seized by Napoleon, standing at the centre of over 1,800 acres of parkland laid out with some of the finest ancient trees in Suffolk, where a dog with good recall can enjoy some off lead time away from the busier paths. This circuit of around 6km crosses the open deer park and wood pasture south of the house to the Tea Party Oak, an oak at least 800 years old with a trunk over 30 feet around, before looping back past Albana Wood, home to another veteran tree around 600 years old. The going is easy and mostly flat across grassland and parkland tracks, with the rotunda and its wings a constant landmark.
This is a dog friendly walk, and dogs are welcome across the parkland and woodland walks, with water bowls provided at the dog friendly cafe by Porter's Lodge. Only assistance dogs can enter the West Wing, the house, the walled garden and the Italianate garden, so keep your dog with you in the wider park instead. The parkland's ancient trees give plenty of shade, and there is enough space for a dog with good recall to enjoy some off lead time away from the busier paths near the house. Deer are present in parts of the park, so keep dogs under close control where they may be encountered. Parking is available near the visitor entrance.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 6.0 km (3.7 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 50 min
- Walk Type
- Park, Historic, Woodland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Low
- Facilities
- Dog friendly cafe with water bowls at Porter's Lodge.
- Parking
- Car park near the visitor entrance at Ickworth.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Ickworth Park and the Tea Party Oak Walk, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in SuffolkFrequently Asked Questions
Is Ickworth Park and the Tea Party Oak Walk dog friendly?
Yes, dogs are welcome across the parkland and woodland walks at Ickworth, and it earns a solid 8/10 on our dog friendly rating. There's a dog friendly cafe at Porter's Lodge where water bowls are provided, and parking is available near the visitor entrance. Do bear in mind that only assistance dogs are permitted in the West Wing, the house, the walled garden, and the Italianate garden.
Can dogs be off lead at Ickworth Park and the Tea Party Oak Walk?
Dogs with good recall can enjoy some off lead time across the 1,800 acres of parkland, particularly away from the busier paths near the house. That said, deer are present in parts of the park, so you'll need to keep your dog under close control in areas where they might be encountered.
What should I know before visiting Ickworth Park and the Tea Party Oak Walk with my dog?
The walk is around 6km, mostly flat across grassland and parkland tracks, making it an easy outing for most dogs. Deer roam parts of the park, so close control is important in those areas, and your dog will need to stay out of the house, walled garden, Italianate garden, and West Wing. On the plus side, the ancient trees provide good shade throughout the walk, and the cafe at Porter's Lodge has water bowls ready for thirsty dogs.
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