Nowton Park Arboretum Walk
Suffolk
Nowton Park sits two miles south of Bury St Edmunds around the former Nowton Court estate, its 200 acres combining open parkland with an arboretum of trees gathered from across the world, including eucalyptus, Kentucky coffee trees and paperbark maple, and a dog can walk off the lead across the open grassland here. This circuit of around 4km follows surfaced paths and grassy tracks past the park's avenue of lime trees, planted around 1880 and spectacular in spring, an oak shaped maze bordered by 2,500 hornbeam trees, and two ponds that support moorhens, mallards and herons. The going is flat and easy throughout, popular enough to host a free weekly 5km parkrun on Saturday mornings from the visitor centre.
This is a dog friendly walk, and off lead walking is generally permitted across the park's open grassland and woodland, subject to local signage. There is no livestock on site, and the ponds give a dog a place to drink, though they are not marked as a swimming spot. There are no dog waste bins in the park, so bring bags to carry it away with you, and there is no natural water source provided for dogs, so carry your own in summer. Keep dogs closer to you on Saturday mornings when the parkrun is under way. The nearest facilities are in Bury St Edmunds, a short drive away.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.0 km (2.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 15 min
- Walk Type
- Park, Woodland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- No cafe, dog waste bins or water source on site; facilities in Bury St Edmunds nearby.
- Parking
- Car park at Nowton Park visitor centre.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Nowton Park Arboretum 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 Nowton Park Arboretum Walk dog friendly?
Yes, Nowton Park is a welcoming spot for dogs, earning a 7/10 dog friendly rating. The 200-acre park combines open grassland with a world-class arboretum, giving dogs plenty of space to explore, and there's no livestock on site to worry about.
Can dogs be off lead at Nowton Park Arboretum Walk?
Off lead walking is generally permitted across the park's open grassland and woodland, subject to local signage. One thing to bear in mind: the park hosts a free 5km parkrun on Saturday mornings, so it's worth keeping your dog a little closer during that time.
What should I know before visiting Nowton Park Arboretum Walk with my dog?
There are no dog waste bins in the park, so you'll need to carry your bags and take any waste away with you. There's also no dedicated water source on site, so bring your own on warmer days — the ponds are there for wildlife rather than drinking. The nearest cafes and facilities are in Bury St Edmunds, just a short drive away.
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