Whitlingham Country Park Broad Circuit
Norfolk
Whitlingham Country Park sits on the edge of Norwich where the River Yare and River Tas meet, its two broads formed from a gravel and chalk quarry that closed in the 1990s, and a dog under effective control can be off the lead across most of the open grass here. The Great Broad and the smaller Little Broad, home to an outdoor education centre's sailing and canoeing, are ringed by a gravel path that makes an easy 4km circuit with almost no climbing. The route touches the River Yare and Trowse Meadow, with views towards Norwich on a clear day. Paths are wide and well surfaced, shared with cyclists, making this one of the most used green spaces in the city.
This is a dog friendly walk with plenty of open grass and lakeside path for a dog to enjoy, and dogs can be off lead across most of the park under effective control. They must go on a lead in the fenced conservation area, Trowse Water Meadow, the children's play area and around the Flint Barn Cafe, and the park asks for extra care during the spring ground nesting bird season. There is no livestock, and the Great Broad gives a dog easy access to the water for a paddle, away from the sailing and canoeing lanes on Little Broad. The Old Quarry car park has toilets and is pay and display, and the dog friendly Flint Barn Cafe serves food outside on a lead. Norwich's pubs and cafes are a short drive away.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.0 km (2.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 10 min
- Walk Type
- Lake, Park
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Flint Barn Cafe (dog friendly, on lead) and toilets at Old Quarry car park.
- Parking
- Old Quarry car park, Whitlingham Country Park, pay and display.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Whitlingham Country Park Broad Circuit, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in NorfolkFrequently Asked Questions
Is Whitlingham Country Park Broad Circuit dog friendly?
Yes, Whitlingham Country Park is a solid choice for dogs, earning a 7/10 on our dog friendly rating. There's plenty of open grass and lakeside path to enjoy on the 4km circuit, and the Great Broad offers easy water access for a paddle. The Flint Barn Cafe at the park welcomes dogs outside, though they must be on a lead there.
Can dogs be off lead at Whitlingham Country Park Broad Circuit?
Dogs can be off lead across most of the park under effective control, which makes this a genuinely freeing walk for a lot of the circuit. There are a few exceptions: leads are required in the fenced conservation area, Trowse Water Meadow, the children's play area, and around the Flint Barn Cafe. There's no livestock on the route, so beyond those areas it's a relaxed walk for most dogs.
What should I know before visiting Whitlingham Country Park Broad Circuit with my dog?
The park is busy and the wide gravel paths are shared with cyclists, so it's worth keeping that in mind if your dog is easily distracted or nervous around bikes. During spring, the park asks visitors to take extra care around ground nesting birds. Parking at the Old Quarry car park is pay and display, and toilets are available there too.
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