Spring is my favourite time of the year for dog walks. I love taking walks in the warmer weather while enjoying seeing the spring flowers blooming. Here are my top 3 dog walks in spring near Swindon, Wiltshire.
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Swindon is a great place to live if you want to be nearby some beautiful dog walks. There are so many great places just a short drive from the town centre. So it’s a perfect place to enjoy some dog walks, especially in the spring sunshine when everything is starting to come to life. Here are my top 3 dog walks in spring near Swindon.
1. Barbury Castle and the Ridgeway
The first of my top 3 dog walks in spring near Swindon is Barbury Castle and the Ridgeway. Barbury Castle is located just outside of Wroughton to the south of Swindon. There’s a large, free car park at the top of the hill. From the car park, you’ve got a choice of two directions to walk. One way takes you to Barbury Castle, the famous iron age hill fort. It’s a lovely walk, but it can get busy in the summer months.
When I’m walking my dog, I prefer to walk along the Ridgeway in the opposite direction. It’s a lot quieter and there’s a huge amount of space for your dog to run around. The views all along this section of the walk are just beautiful, looking over the lovely Wiltshire countryside. Walk as far as you and your dog want along the Ridgeway, then turn back to the car park.
2. Cricklade North Meadow for the fritillaries
Another of my top 3 dog walks in spring near Swindon is North Meadow in Cricklade. This huge meadow really comes alive in the spring when the fritillaries bloom. These rare flowers come out in the springtime, around April. For a few weeks the field is just full of these purple flowers, with a few of the even rarer white fritillaries in bloom as well. Check out the best time to visit when the flowers are out here.
Dogs need to be kept on leads in North Meadow as they can damage the fritillaries. However, the paths are wide, so you can have your dog on an extendable lead so they can still have the freedom to explore without getting too close to the flowers. It’s a really beautiful place to go for a walk in the spring sunshine.
3. Uffington White Horse and Dragon Hill
The last of my top 3 dog walks in spring near Swindon is Uffington White Horse and Dragon Hill. It’s just on the border with Oxfordshire, and is one of my favourite places near Swindon for beautiful, vast views. There’s a National Trust car park, and it costs £2 for 2 hours. This would be enough time if you want to walk around the main sights and take some photos. However, if it’s a warm sunny day, consider choosing the 4 hours parking option so you can relax with a picnic as well.
Uffington White Horse dates back over 3000 years. I always find it amazing to be walking in such historic areas, thinking about all the people who have walked here before me. You can get some views of the White Horse from the path.
Continue walking to get to Dragon Hill. This flat-topped small hill is where the legend says St George killed the dragon. It’s a great place for your dog to enjoy running around!
On the way back to the car park, you can make a detour to Uffington Castle. This iron age hill fort is another amazing part of history. It’s also a great open space for your dog to explore, and makes a great ending to your day out.
If you’re looking for more dog walks near Swindon, I’d recommend getting this great Wiltshire walk book (affiliate). There are loads of walk options with really clear maps to follow.
Enjoy the top 3 dog walks in spring near Swindon! If you’re looking for more places to walk near Swindon, check out my recommendations for weekend walks in Wiltshire, walks in Swindon, and also walks in Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds. For more adventures with your dog in the UK, read my blogs about visiting Dorset with your dog, and the top dog walks in the Gower Peninsula, Wales.
