Win Green and the Ox Drove Circular
Wiltshire
At 277 metres, Win Green is the highest point in Cranborne Chase National Landscape, a National Trust hilltop crowned by a clump of beech trees growing on a Bronze Age bowl barrow, where dogs stay on a lead among the grazing cattle and deer. On a clear day the view runs from the Needles on the Isle of Wight to the Quantock Hills. This 8km circuit, route W14 in the Cranborne Chase walks series, starts from the free car park just below the summit and follows the Ox Drove, an ancient droving road, before looping round the historic Ashcombe estate and its deep, steep sided combes. The going is mostly on chalk tracks, but it is hilly, with one very steep section, and around 220 metres of climbing in total.
This is a dog friendly walk for dogs who enjoy long, open tracks, but it is a lead walk for much of the way. The National Trust welcomes dogs on leads at Win Green, where grazing has been brought back to the downland and White Park cattle graze the northern slopes. Fallow deer roam the Ashcombe estate, so keep a lead on in the woods and combes too. There are no streams on the route and the tops are exposed, so carry water for your dog. The Ox Drove is a byway, so watch for the odd vehicle. Parking at the top is free and run by the National Trust, and there are no facilities on the route.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 8.0 km (5.0 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 2 hr 30 min
- Walk Type
- Peak, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Low
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- None on route or at the car park.
- Parking
- Win Green car park, National Trust, free, reached by a track off the B3081 between Shaftesbury and Tollard Royal.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Win Green and the Ox Drove Circular, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Sturminster Newtons Old Coach House
Sleeps 2 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £428 / 7 nights
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All dog friendly stays in WiltshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Win Green and the Ox Drove Circular dog friendly?
Yes, it scores 7 out of 10 for dog friendliness. Dogs are welcome at Win Green and the wide chalk tracks make for easy, enjoyable walking with huge views. The score reflects the lead rules: the National Trust asks for dogs on leads, cattle graze the slopes and fallow deer live on the Ashcombe estate. There is also no water or cafe on the route.
Can dogs be off lead at Win Green and the Ox Drove Circular?
Not really. The National Trust welcomes dogs at Win Green on leads, and cattle graze parts of the down, including the northern slopes below the summit. Fallow deer roam the woods and combes of the Ashcombe estate, which is private land crossed by rights of way. A long lead gives your dog some freedom on the Ox Drove, but plan on keeping it attached for the whole circuit.
What should I know before visiting Win Green and the Ox Drove Circular with my dog?
The route is hilly, with one very steep section, and chalk tracks can be slippery and rutted after rain. The summit is exposed to wind and has no shade apart from the beech clump, and there is no water on the route, so carry plenty for your dog. The Ox Drove is a byway open to vehicles. The National Trust car park at the top is free, with no toilets.
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Win Green Car Park, off the B3081, Donhead St Mary, Shaftesbury SP7 0EP
50.9830, -2.1111
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