Whether you are on holiday or just having a day out, if a dog is a member of your family, it’s always a joy to be able to take them along as well. Luckily there are lots of interesting and exciting things to do in The Malverns where your furry four-legged friend is welcome as well.
1. Walking on the Malvern Hills
We couldn’t begin a list of top dog friendly experiences without including a walk on the famous Malvern Hills as number 1! This 9 mile (15 km) range of 20 named peaks has over 100 miles of footpaths for humans and dogs to enjoy. While you are delighting in the beautiful scenery and far reaching views, your dog can relish in all the new smells and open spaces to run.
If you would like some ideas of walking routes on the Malvern Hills click here or download The Malverns Walking App here.
Be aware livestock do graze on sections of the hills, so please read the notices and keep your dog on a lead around cattle and sheep. The Malvern Hills Trust website regularly update STOCKWATCH so you are able to know where livestock are on the hills as they move around frequently.
This historic family home and extensive grounds is a fully dog friendly, award-winning visitor attraction. It is one of a select few ‘Historic Houses’ that allow dogs in the castle grounds and even inside the house. Take a tour around this 19th Century revival castle to see the medieval armour, fine art and tapestries that decorate the state rooms. Outside, there is an arboretum to explore, a trail around the lake, adventure playground and tearoom. Eastnor Castle prides itself on it’s ‘Dogs Welcome Policy’ and it is no surprise that the current owners are dog owners themselves. Find out more here.
Hire a self-drive boat and have a relaxing day out on the river. Spend a day or half day exploring the River Severn by hiring a small boat from Severn Expeditions, based in Upton Upon Severn. There is a long stretch of the river to explore from Upton, either heading north towards Worcester or south towards Tewkesbury. Perhaps you would like to do a spot of fishing or have a peaceful picnic on the water while watching the wildlife and beautiful scenery around you.
Dogs are allowed on the boats for a small fee. Please see the website for details.
Three separate nature trails have been established and start from the carpark at The Fold in Bransford. There is a lake, river, and railway trail and each of the trails are around 1 mile long. These trails are perfect for both humans and dogs to enjoy. They offer a fantastic opportunity to escape busy life and immerse yourself in nature, surrounded by wildflowers, varied wildlife and stunning views. You may even spot a kingfisher or otter along the River Teme.
The Fold is a small artisan village with several studios, a farm shop and a café selling produce from the organic farm onsite. If you wish to extend your visit to The Fold, some of the independent studios are dog friendly and you can sit outside the café on a nice day.
The Fold ask for a £3 donation per car to maintain the carpark and trails.
Take a self-guided tour around the very dog-friendly historic church. Starting life as a Benedictine monastery in 1085, Great Malvern Priory has a long and fascinating history. Learn about the history of the Priory and how parishioners saved it from King Henry VIII. There are many beautiful features to explore, including medieval floor tiles, original Norman pillars, awarding winning 19th Century stained glass and ancient carvings on 14th and 15th Century Misericords.
The ‘Tour of Great Malvern Priory’ guidebook is on sale in the little shop inside the Priory. Great Malvern Priory is dog friendly and there is a water bowl outside in the entrance porch.
A visit to this English Heritage great Victorian country house is not to be missed. It may now be a ruin after a disastrous fire took hold in 1937 but you can still marvel at the impressive architecture and the ‘wow factor’ of this building. You will find lots to explore including Great Witley Church, with its Italianate Baroque interior, Wilderness Play area and vast parkland with parterre gardens, topiary, and colourful flower beds. An audio tour of the ruin brings the history of this decadent court to life and the fully restored, spectacular Perseus and Ardromeda fountain is a highlight of the visit.
Dogs are allowed everywhere on leads.
7. Tenbury Wells Town Heritage Trail
Enjoy learning about the market town of Tenbury Wells. Take the self-guided walk around the town which identifies the many interesting buildings around Tenbury such as The Pump Rooms, The Burgage, St Mary’s Church, The Round Market and many more. The whole trail takes around two hours to complete. Keep an eye out for the blue descriptive plaques dotted around the town.
To download the walking route click here or download The Malverns Walking App here.
8. Vineyard Tours and Wine Tasting
Two vineyards located in The Malverns kindly allow dogs to accompany their owners on their tours:
Astley Vineyard, near Tenbury Wells, is a small boutique producer with a 5 acre vineyard. Their tours and winery have been featured in The Telegraph as one of 10 best vineyard tours in the UK. The 2 hour long tour includes a short walk to the vineyard, a walk and talk amongst the vines, an introduction to basic winemaking and a guided tasting of 3 wines alongside local produce.
Dogs can join the tour but must sit outside the tasting room (no wine for those with paws!).
Coddington Vineyard, near Malvern, produce a small selection of white wines from 2,300 vines in the 2 acre vineyard. Join a short 30 minute tour and learn about the history of the vineyard. This is followed by a tasting of 3 wines in the cellar.
Dogs are allowed on all special events at Coddington Vineyard: tours, tasting experiences and open garden days.
9. Teme Valley Trails
Walking will always feature in your day as a dog owner so why not have an enjoyable day following one of the Teme Valley Trails. These include 6 walking routes and 6 cycling routes and 1 driving route throughout the Teme Valley. These trails include stops at local eateries and range from easy to challenging so there is something for everyone. Routes cover riverside footpaths, stunning panoramic rural views, summit vistas, ancient Dovecotes, commons and hills.
For more information click here or download The Malverns Walking App here.
10. Shopping in Great Malvern
This might not be the most entertaining or exciting activity for your furry friend, but Great Malvern is very dog friendly and many of the independent shops on the high street accept dogs. Make a beeline for Iapetus Gallery, a shop full of beautiful handmade crafts. Then visit both Rhubarb stores, a fantastic gift shop, and Rhubarb Home sells quirky and unique homewares. Pop into Malvern Tourist Information Centre for holiday souvenirs and local history books for humans, and a fuss and biscuit for the dogs. And no dog friendly shopping experience would be complete without a visit to Austin and Co which has won ‘Best Dog Friendly Shop in the UK’ on more than one occasion. This greetings card and stationery shop has a huge range of cards and gifts especially for dog lovers and even merchandise for your dog including collars, leads, treats and toys.
11. Pet Shops
Along with the aforementioned Austin and Co, The Malverns has a whole host of pet supply shops. Read our blog for the full run down.
Dog Friendly Accommodation
You and your dog will receive a warm welcome from numerous accommodation providers in the area from popular hotels to guest houses and highly rated cottages to glamping, camping and caravan sites. You are guaranteed to find somewhere ideal to rest your weary feet and paws. Search for dog-friendly accommodation here.
