Guides

Best Places to Walk Dogs in Peterborough

I've walked dogs all over Peterborough and the surrounding villages over the years, and these are the ones I keep coming back to (see the full areas I cover). In order, these are Sandra's favourites.

Worth a glance before you head out, whether that's picking a swim spot on a warm day or a sheltered one when it's blowing a gale:

Peterborough, 5-day forecast

TL;DR — key points

• Nine Bridges / Maxey Cut: open, off-lead friendly, swimming
• Eye Green Nature Reserve: enclosed, swimming, watch for nesting swans in spring
• Ferry Meadows: the biggest and best-known, avoid the midday crowds
• Around Sandra’s Place: no car needed for dogs staying over
• Lodge Farm & Stilton dog parks: private-hire fields, ideal for nervous dogs

1. Nine Bridges / Maxey Cut

• Off-lead friendly
• Swimming (river)
• Open, easy visibility

My number one. Lots of open space, well away from cars, with good visibility throughout so you can let dogs off lead with confidence and still keep an eye on them from a distance. It follows the river, so there's swimming for dogs the whole way along, always a favourite on a warm day.

2. Eye Green Nature Reserve

• Fully enclosed
• Swimming (lake)
• Watch for nesting swans

A lovely circuit that's fully enclosed and away from traffic, with water for dogs to cool off in. One thing to watch for: in spring, keep a close eye out for swans with cygnets. They can be surprisingly protective, so give them plenty of space.

3. Ferry Meadows

• Swimming
• Big, varied circuits
• Can get busy midday

Peterborough's best-known dog walking spot, and for good reason. It can get crowded at peak times, so I tend to avoid the middle of the day. The size makes up for it: a huge area to explore, lots of different circuits, plus access to water for a swim.

If your dog has a habit of finding dead fish or birds by the water here, my guide to why dogs roll in poo and dead things explains the risks and how to manage it.

4. Around Sandra's Place

• No car needed
• Quiet roads & green space

For dogs staying with me, we don't always need to go far. There's plenty of green space and quiet roads right around my own home, which makes for genuinely good walks for boarding dogs without ever needing the car.

Two more worth knowing about, a bit different from the rest: private, paid dog fields I use for nervous or difficult dogs, not everyday walks.

5. Lodge Farm Dog Park (Thorney)

• Private hire
• Fully enclosed
• Good for nervous dogs

A private-hire field just outside Thorney, fully enclosed and exclusively yours for your booked slot. No other dogs, no surprises. It's a paid venue, so it isn't part of my everyday walking routes, but it's brilliant for nervous or reactive dogs who need calm, controlled space. If I think a dog in my care would benefit from a change of scene, I'll take them there myself, at my own expense, never an extra cost to you.

6. Stilton Dog Park

• Private hire
• Fully enclosed
• Good for nervous dogs

The same idea, over in Stilton: a fully enclosed, private-hire field, ideal for a dog that finds other dogs or open spaces overwhelming. Same as Lodge Farm, it's paid-for and not somewhere I go for a standard walk. If it's the right call for a dog in my care, I'll cover it myself.

If you're wondering how much of this your dog actually needs, I've written separately about how often your dog needs walking, including a breed-by-breed table that surprises most people. Or pop your dog's breed into my exercise needs calculator for an instant answer.

Got a favourite spot I've missed? Message me, I'm always happy to hear about it.