If you’re looking for a proper dog friendly Winchcombe day out, you’re in for a treat. This honey-stone Cotswold town sits about 20 minutes from Tewkesbury along the B4632, tucked under the escarpment with the Cotswold Way running straight through the middle of it. It’s the kind of place that looks like it was built for a postcard, but it’s also a genuinely brilliant base for a day out with your dog: proper walking trails, a warm welcome in the pubs, and none of the fuss you sometimes get in the more touristy Cotswold villages.
We send a fair few customers this way, whether they’re staying locally on holiday or just fancy a change of scenery for the weekend walk. Here’s what you need to know before you go.
Why Winchcombe Works So Well for Dogs
Winchcombe calls itself the walking capital of the Cotswolds, and it earns the title. The Cotswold Way, a 102 mile National Trail running from Chipping Campden to Bath, passes right along the High Street, and half a dozen other named routes (the Winchcombe Way, the Wardens Way, the Isbourne Way) either start or pass through the town. That means you’re never short of options, whether you want a gentle 30 minute loop with a spaniel who tires easily or a proper half day out with a dog who needs the miles taking out of them.
Unlike some of the bigger Cotswold honeypots, Winchcombe still feels like a working town rather than a film set. There’s a butcher, a bakery, a proper independent deli, and dogs are welcome pretty much everywhere except the churchyard and, sadly, inside Sudeley Castle’s gardens (more on that below). It’s a comfortable, unhurried sort of place, and that makes it easy with a dog in tow.
Getting There and Parking
From Tewkesbury, head out on the A46 towards Cheltenham and pick up the B4632 towards Winchcombe. It’s a straightforward 20 to 25 minute drive with no motorway needed, which makes it an easy half day trip even if you’re not planning to stay out long.
For parking, the two main options are the Tewkesbury Borough Council car parks on Back Lane (GL54 5PZ) and Bull Lane (GL54 5HX), both a short stroll from the High Street. Neither is huge, so on a sunny bank holiday weekend it’s worth arriving reasonably early, especially if you’re planning to walk first and explore the town after.
The Best Walk: Winchcombe to Belas Knap
If you only do one walk while you’re here, make it the circular route up to Belas Knap Long Barrow. It’s a proper Cotswold ridge walk: a steep climb out of town through woodland and fields, opening up into wide views back over the Isbourne valley once you’re up on the top. Expect a couple of stiles and a kissing gate along the way, so it’s not a buggy-friendly stroll, but for a fit dog it’s a fantastic couple of hours.
Belas Knap itself is a 5,000 year old Neolithic long barrow, free to visit and looked after by English Heritage, and well worth the climb for the view alone even before you get to the history. 🐾 There’s often sheep grazing in the fields on the approach, so dogs need to be kept on the lead through that stretch, same as on most of the Cotswold Way. You can find the full circular route, along with an OS map, on the [National Trail’s official Cotswold Way pages](https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/cotswold-way/trail-information/), which is worth a look before you set off if you want the exact distances and terrain notes.
If you’d rather keep things flatter, the town itself has plenty of shorter riverside and field paths along the Isbourne, and the tourist information point at the Museum can point you towards a self guided walk that suits your dog’s fitness rather than yours.
What to Know Before You Go
A few practical bits worth knowing if this is your first dog friendly Winchcombe visit. Sudeley Castle, just outside town, is a lovely place to visit but assistance dogs aside, pets aren’t allowed in the castle grounds or gardens, so it’s not one to plan around if the dog is coming too. The Cotswold Way itself does cross working farmland in several places, so leads on around livestock are a must, not a suggestion, and it’s worth keeping an eye out for waymarking since mobile signal can be patchy up on the tops.
Underfoot, expect a mix of firm tracks, grass and the odd muddy stretch after rain, plus a fair bit of uphill if you’re heading for Belas Knap or Cleeve Common further along the ridge. Good for a dog who likes a proper walk, less good if yours prefers a flat pavement plod.
A Proper Dog Friendly Pub Stop
After a morning on the hills, Winchcombe doesn’t leave you short of somewhere to refuel. The Lion Inn on the High Street is genuinely set up for dogs, with a garden where they’re free to relax, a spot by the fireplace kept for dog owners in colder months, and water bowls and a treat waiting at the door. The White Hart and the Corner Cupboard both have a name locally as dog friendly too, so you’re not stuck for choice if one’s busy.
Before You Head Home: Topping Up at BTB Dog Supplies
Since Winchcombe sits just off the B4632 between Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, it’s an easy loop to build a stop at BTB Dog Supplies into your day, either on the way out or on the way back. We’re right by Junction 9 of the M5 at Unit A, Newton Farm, Tewkesbury, GL20 7BE, directly opposite the Cotswold Designer Outlet, so if you’re combining a walk with a spot of shopping it barely adds any time to your journey.
If you’re holidaying nearby and running low on your dog’s usual food, or you just want to grab a few treats to reward all that climbing up to Belas Knap, we’re open six days a week and always happy to help, whether you feed raw, kibble, or a bit of both. A tired dog after a big Cotswold walk is a hungry dog, and it’s a handy last stop before you’re back on the motorway or heading further into the hills for the rest of your trip.
Whatever route you end up taking around Winchcombe, it’s a proper dog friendly Cotswolds day out, right on Tewkesbury’s doorstep, and one we’d happily send you on again.
