Dog-friendly walks in Harrogate

Four miles and about two hours from the top of the Valley Gardens out through Cardale Woods to the gritstone outcrop of Birk Crag, returning down the wooded ravine of Oak Beck, with roughly 100 metres of climbing on rooty woodland paths that hold mud through the winter. Start from the Harlow Carr end of Valley Gardens or the roadside parking on Cornwall Road; the 6 and 24 buses both put you within a few minutes' walk. The woods are the best off-lead ground within walking distance of Harrogate town centre and Oak Beck gives a clean drink, but the crag itself drops away suddenly, so call a dog back well before the top.

Two hundred acres of protected open parkland wrapping around the south of Harrogate town centre, kept open and unenclosed since the Great Award of 1778. Flat mown grass criss-crossed by tree-lined paths gives dogs freedom to roam off lead under control, with cherry blossom avenues in spring. No stock, no gates, and cafes at almost every edge.

A gentle mile and a half from Harrogate's ornamental Valley Gardens, with its bandstand and spa-history wells, up through 96 acres of Pinewoods to Harlow Carr's boundary. Dogs on leads are welcome throughout the formal gardens, and the pine plantation paths are shaded and dry underfoot most of the year. Plenty of bins and easy town-centre access make this the default Harrogate dog leg-stretch.