The best dog-friendly hikes and walks around Bowness

Our guide features a selection of 6 dog-friendly hiking trails. These routes are generally easy, making them suitable for most dogs and their owners.

The area around Bowness-on-Windermere offers diverse terrain for dog walks. You'll find gentle lakeside paths, tranquil woodlands, and rewarding climbs up smaller fells like Orrest Head and Brant Fell, which provide stunning views over Lake Windermere and the surrounding landscape. While the specific routes in this guide are located further north near Glasson Moss, the general Bowness area provides a rich variety of natural environments.

Yes, all the routes in this guide are rated as easy. For example, the Glasson Moss – Glasson Moss Boardwalk loop from Bowness is a short 2.4 km walk with minimal elevation gain, perfect for a relaxed outing. The Bowness-on-Windermere area itself also offers many flat lakeside strolls.

Yes, all the dog-friendly routes listed in this guide are circular. For instance, the Glasson Moss – Glasson Moss Boardwalk loop from Drumburgh offers a 7.5 km circular path, allowing you and your dog to return to your starting point without retracing your steps.

The komoot community rates the dog-friendly trails in this guide highly, with an average score of 3.9 stars from 92 ratings. Hikers often praise the peaceful atmosphere and the opportunity to explore nature with their canine companions.

Absolutely. While the specific routes in this guide are located at Glasson Moss, the Bowness-on-Windermere area is renowned for its scenic viewpoints. Walks up Orrest Head, Brant Fell, and School Knott offer panoramic vistas of Lake Windermere and the fells, providing rewarding sights for both you and your dog.

For a longer adventure, consider the Glasson Moss – Glasson Moss Boardwalk loop from Drumburgh, which spans 7.5 km. Another option is the Glasson Moss – Molly's Path loop from Bowness-on-Solway, covering 7 km, offering a good distance for active dogs.

While the specific dog-friendly routes in this guide are located near Glasson Moss, you can find several interesting attractions in that vicinity. These include historical sites like St Michael's Church, Burgh by Sands, and the Hadrian's Wall Path Pavilion and Stamping Station. You can also explore the Burgh Marsh.

To find less crowded options, consider exploring some of the woodland trails or smaller fells slightly away from the immediate lakeside bustle of Bowness-on-Windermere. The routes in this guide, such as the various loops around Glasson Moss, offer a more tranquil experience away from the main tourist hubs.

Spring and autumn generally offer the most pleasant conditions for dog walks in the Bowness area, with milder temperatures and beautiful scenery. Summer can be lovely but also busier, while winter walks can be very atmospheric, though you should be prepared for colder, potentially wetter weather and shorter daylight hours.

Bowness-on-Windermere itself is well-served by public transport, making it possible to access many walks directly from the town without a car. While the specific routes in this guide are located further north, many local paths around Bowness-on-Windermere are easily reachable by bus or even ferry services across the lake.