Wimbledon Common

Wimbledon Common is arguably one of my favourite winter walks around London, boasting gorgeous greenery and forest, it is truly beautiful when covered in a layer of frost or snow. It is perfect for those early morning walks, where you can see a beautiful sunrise over the forest, or you can enjoy an equal lovely early evening walk, so you can enjoy the vibrant sunsets. Everywhere is dog friendly, however, one should be mindful of the golf course in the middle, whilst pedestrians have right of way, there can be rouge goofballs around the fairway and greens. You can enjoy a coffee and a sandwich at the windmill café, or if you fancy something whilst on your walk, there is a gorgeous coffee cart along the footpath by the golf course and just down from the windmill!

 

Esher Common

Situated just outside of London, Esher common is a place of stunning scenery , showcasing a most beautiful deciduous forest, complete with many paths and routes that can take you all over the common. You will see animals such as deer and horses, completing the view. If you are feeling peckish, you can pop into the Bear or the Plough Inn for a lovely lunch, both of which are dog friendly.

 

Ockham Common

Ockham can be found just outside the M25, it is a lovely, dog friendly walk. You begin the walk across sandy paths, complete with beautiful trees. You can then continue up to the tower, where you go from moorland to forest seamlessly. You can pick up a coffee or a snack from the critically acclaimed café in the carpark, before moving onto the wonderful Black Swan pub for a wonderful roast dinner to round off the walk

 

Wisley Common

Wisley common and garden is a lovely mix of garden and woodland, situated just outside of Dorking, it boasts some of the most impressive gardens, which are kept by the Royal Horticultural Society. Its massive greenhouse mimics the one at Kew gardens, mimicking a tropical environment allowing wonderful and wacky plants to grow in the middle of Surrey. Family activities are always available, such as woodland treasure hunts and gardening, making Wisley the perfect family day out. The large indoor garden centre contains a plethora of plants, garden furniture and an eclectic mix of household items, along with a large café, suitable for any meal of the day, serving things like toasties, pasta, scones and a large variety of drinks, available to anyone.

 

Richmond Park

Richmond Park is often considered an iconic part of London and for good reason. The Park was originally Henry VIII’s hunting grounds, which can be seen by the ancient and massive heard of deer and Pembroke Lodge, once the old hunting lodge, but now houses and large cafe. The site is the largest suburban nature reserve, boasting numerous attractions such as the Isabella Plantation, which is filled with millions of brightly coloured flowers, but in winter turns into a virtual wonderland. Anyone who is interested in history might also be excited to know that some of the trees from Henry VIII’s day are still in the park today, making them some of the oldest trees you can find in London. The Tamsin trail a 7 mile path that takes you around the park and is perfect for runners, walker and bikers. One caveat however could be that if you want to take your dog off the lead, you would have to be careful with the deer but this would not always be an issue.