The best dog walks around Portsmouth & Southsea

Milton Common

Reclaimed grassland on the island's eastern shore, with sea and harbour views and plenty of off-lead room to roam.

Baffins Pond

An easy, level loop around a freshwater pond that's always busy with ducks, geese and swans.

Hilsea Lines

A shady two-mile green corridor of old ramparts and moat along the top of the island, known locally as Foxes Forest and made for off-lead wandering.

Southsea Common

Acres of open seafront grass with a fenced dog area, right on the front for a proper run-around.

Eastney Beach

A quieter shingle beach at the island's eastern tip where dogs are welcome off the lead all year round.

Southsea seafront promenade

A flat, mile-long prom from the piers down to Eastney, ideal for a steady paved stroll with the sea alongside.

Portsdown Hill

The chalk ridge rising straight behind Cosham, with a viewpoint car park and miles of gentle ridge paths looking out over the harbour to the Solent and Isle of Wight.

King George V Playing Fields

A big, flat sweep of everyday open grass, handy for a quick leg-stretch close to home.

Farlington Playing Fields

A large, flat rec ground on Eastern Road with easy parking and masses of room to run, and the nature reserve right next door (it can get muddy in winter).

Bidbury Mead

A tree-ringed recreation ground on the Bedhampton edge of Drayton, level and easy, with a coastal path leading down towards the harbour.

Farlington Marshes

A wild coastal nature reserve wrapping the top of Langstone Harbour, all huge skies and wintering wildfowl. Dogs stay on the lead here for the ground-nesting birds and grazing cattle.

Langstone Harbour shore

The flat, breezy sea-wall path (part of the Solent Way) beside the marshes, with open water the whole way and views across to Hayling Island.

Port Solent

Easy, flat walking around the marina Boardwalk on Paulsgrove's harbour edge, with boats to watch and cafés to finish at.

Paulsgrove Chalk Pits

A quiet local nature trail winding up through the old chalk pits behind the estate, alive with birds and butterflies in summer.

Havant Thicket

Broad, criss-crossing woodland tracks a little to the east, with hidden ponds, plenty of wildlife and a link path through to Staunton Country Park.

Jubilee Park

A well-kept town park with a fenced off-lead area and a shady trail through mature oaks, right in the heart of Waterlooville.

Queen's Inclosure

A hundred acres of ancient oak woodland (a surviving piece of the Forest of Bere) with flat, easy paths right on Cowplain's doorstep.

Cowplain Recreation Ground

A handy local green off Padnell Road for a quick, close-to-home walk and a play.

Purbrook Heath

An open sweep of common and recreation land right on the doorstep, unfenced and easy for an everyday walk.

Hermitage Stream greenway

A level, tucked-away streamside path for walkers only, threading north from Purbrook Way well away from the traffic.

Creech Woods

Flat, easy woodland loops on good gravel tracks, part of the old Forest of Bere on the edge of the village.

West Walk

The largest surviving slice of the ancient Forest of Bere, with waymarked trails and miles of natural paths through the trees.

Catherington Down

A steep-sided chalk-grassland reserve with switchback paths, far-reaching views and summer orchids, a proper workout for an energetic dog.

Blendworth & Chalton Down

A classic downland circuit from the village out through Blendworth and over Chalton Down, with big views and dog-friendly pubs to pause at.

Butser Hill

The highest chalk hill on the South Downs, all huge open skies and springy turf (dogs on the lead near the grazing livestock).

Queen Elizabeth Country Park

Over 20 miles of waymarked woodland and downland trails just south, with a café at the visitor centre and even a dog activity course.