Not every dog enjoys busy parks or crowded walking routes. Whether you have a puppy learning the ropes, an adolescent with endless energy, a rescue finding their confidence, a reactive or anxious dog, or an older dog who needs a gentler outing, sometimes the best walk is simply one where everyone can relax.
I’ve brought together a selection of secure dog fields, enclosed exercise areas and quieter walking locations across Dorset to help you find the right place for your dog.
Whether you’re looking for:
- Secure fields where your dog can run safely off lead
- Quiet walks away from busy paths and popular dog-walking hotspots
- Safe places to practise training and recall
- Calm environments for nervous or reactive dogs
- Gentle routes for older dogs or those recovering from injury
…you’ll find some options below.
Some locations are exclusive-use secure fields, available to hire by the hour, while others are quieter public spaces that are ideal for training or peaceful walks.
Free enclosed areas
I do not recommend the below for dogs that struggle with other dogs, as access to these areas will include meeting other dogs.
Slades Farm – Bournemouth
Canford Sang – Poole
Upton Country Park, Poole
Secure fields for hire
Oak Paddock – Upton
Hayters Field – Wimborne
K9 Woods Dog Park – Ferndown
The Dog Park – Three Legged Cross
Purbeck Dog Park – Corfe Castle
Charisworth Farm Dog Field – Blandford
North Dorset Secure Dog Field, Gillingham
The Gallops Secure Field, Dorchester
Petplan Dog Adventure Parks (Dog Field), Wimborne
Wild and Free Dog Meadows – Fordingbridge
The Dog Walking Field – Burton
Dogs onlead walks
Longham Lakes – parking is permit-only available here https://www.swlakestrust.org.uk/longham-lakes but you can find places to park and walk in
RSPB Arne Nature Reserve – https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/arne
Kingston Lacey – National Trust – onlead dog areas. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/kingston-lacy/visiting-kingston-lacy-with-your-dog
Cemeteries – weird but true. Dogs are permitted in most BCP cemeteries onlead. Really good option for a quiet, stress-free walk.
Quieter places
(With the caveat that, avoiding prime dog walking times, they are generally quieter)
Poole Park – if you stick to tennis courts side
Bournemouth Gardens – town centre to coy pond
Stourview Greenspace – off Magna Road, Poole. Navigating the bridge is the only tricky bit https://maps.app.goo.gl/FUgqa2TRegxHeuqg6
Morden Bog lots of space and great visibility https://maps.app.goo.gl/vWiF9y4bstCpu42CA
Ramsdown Forest https://maps.app.goo.gl/2tw7cntXhnwBLMuo8
Canford Heath – accessed from Knighton Heath Golf Club side, or Wheelers Lane.
Kings Park – if you stick to the quieter side with the cafe, you have good visibility and can create space as needed.
I know most of us love the idea of ‘going on a walk’ in a lovely green space, but our dogs will also get so much out of a sniffy walk on streets they don’t regularly walk. Specifically areas in BCP with wider roads, trees and grassy verges, like Glenferness Avenue and the side roads. Industrial estates and car parks, while not the most attractive, are also quieter and can give you space to walk, sniff and train.