The following are walks that may be good places to let your dog off the lead. If you need more directions then contact me as I ran out of room on the page. None of these are 100% safe so please take care, and if your dog is still new or can be unreliable then you will be better off finding a safe field where there is nothing to chase and you can guarantee that he/she cannot escape (or come to playgroup!).
- Severn Ham (Tewkesbury) - huge field surrounded by river, so essentially an island. Only access, unless your dog decides to swim out, is by 2 pedestrian gates at one end. Park in town or by the caravan park just past the Abbey. This is a great walk when you are just starting to let your dog off the lead as there is no wildlife apart from a few birds and you can see the whole of the Ham for the duration of the walk, so can spot other people/dogs coming. *September 08 - there are currently sheep in the field!*
- Ullen Wood (Cheltenham) - Woodland Trust wood at the top of Leckhampton Hill, near Ullenwood College. The first field is enclosed but the fence is very low in places, so only suitable if you are certain your dog will not jump it. However, there are two areas of woodland entirely surrounded by deer-proof fencing and several stock fields that are usually free from stock.
- Pittville Crescent (Cheltenham) - near Pittville Park there are two small, enclosed parks in Pittville Crescent. One of these has one gate and is surrounded by a high fence and hedge, so dogs cannot see out or escape. I tie the gate closed with the lead for extra safety, or take a friend to stand by it. It is very popular among Cheltenham greyhound owners!
- Hempstead (South of Gloucester) - park in Hempstead and walk North along the Severn way and there are several enclosed fields, which are reasonably safe for off-lead running. There may be cows/sheep in some of the fields at certain times of year.
