Ledbury and the Malvern Hills Fringe

Yes, this is a great walk to do with a dog, and Ledbury itself adds to the experience with several dog-friendly pubs and full town facilities at both ends of the route. The 8.9 km circuit takes in orchard and hop yard country before climbing to the Herefordshire Beacon, so there's plenty of varied and interesting terrain for dogs to enjoy.

There's a short open stretch on the Beacon itself where dogs can enjoy more freedom, but leads are needed in several sections. The farmland on the descent passes livestock, the orchard paths require care, and the narrow cobbled streets of Church Lane and the market centre are best navigated on-lead at the start and finish of the walk.

The most important seasonal note is that fermenting windfalls in the orchards are toxic to dogs in quantity , during harvest season in October and November, keep your dog off the orchard floor. Beyond that, be prepared to put leads on when passing livestock through the farmland sections, and keep dogs close in Ledbury's narrow medieval centre.