Wallingford Castle Meadows and the Thames Path
Oxfordshire
Wallingford Castle was built soon after 1066, when William the Conqueror's army crossed the Thames here, and grew into one of the largest castles in England before Cromwell's forces demolished it after a long siege in 1652. The earthwork ramparts and a few fragments of masonry survive in Castle Meadows, floodplain grassland beside the Thames managed by the Earth Trust, along with a Victorian grotto and the rare snakeshead fritillary in spring, so dogs go on a lead when the cattle are grazing. This easy 3.7km circular walk links the castle grounds with a stretch of the Thames Path along the riverbank near Wallingford Bridge, passing the town's historic churches on the return leg. The going is flat throughout on grass and firm paths, with one stile.
This is a dog friendly walk, with moderate off-lead space in the open meadows away from the river path itself. Cattle graze Castle Meadows at times, so the Earth Trust asks for dogs to be kept on a lead there, and the riverbank section by the Thames is busier with boats, swimmers and other dog walkers. The Thames gives a dog easy access to drink or paddle along the bank, and there is some tree shade around the castle grounds, though little on the open meadow itself. Dogs are welcome in the castle grounds but not the separate, gated castle gardens. Parking is in Wallingford's town centre car parks, a short walk from the meadows, with plenty of cafes and dog-friendly pubs in the town for afterwards.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 3.7 km (2.3 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 10 min
- Walk Type
- River, Historic, Park
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- No toilets in the meadows; cafes and dog-friendly pubs in Wallingford town centre.
- Parking
- Wallingford town centre car parks (pay and display), a short walk from Castle Meadows; very limited roadside parking on Cemetery Lane.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Wallingford Castle Meadows and the Thames Path, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in OxfordshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Wallingford Castle Meadows and the Thames Path dog friendly?
Yes, dogs are welcome on this 3.7km circular walk through the castle meadows and along the Thames Path, earning it a 7/10 dog-friendly rating. The Thames provides easy access for dogs to drink or paddle along the bank, there's some shade around the castle grounds, and Wallingford town centre has plenty of cafes and dog-friendly pubs nearby for afterwards. Do note that dogs are welcome in the castle grounds but not in the separate, gated castle gardens.
Can dogs be off lead at Wallingford Castle Meadows and the Thames Path?
There's moderate off-lead space in the open meadows, but it comes with a couple of important caveats. The Earth Trust asks that dogs are kept on a lead in Castle Meadows when cattle are grazing there, and the riverbank section along the Thames Path tends to be busier with boats, swimmers and other dog walkers, so it's worth keeping that in mind too.
What should I know before visiting Wallingford Castle Meadows and the Thames Path with my dog?
The walk is flat throughout on grass and firm paths, making it an easy outing, but there is one stile to navigate along the route. Cattle graze Castle Meadows at times, so be prepared to pop your dog on a lead in that section, and note there are no toilets in the meadows themselves. Parking is in Wallingford's town centre pay and display car parks, a short walk from the meadows, with very limited roadside parking on Cemetery Lane as an alternative.
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