Towpath Tails Dog Park

Your dog will drag you here within seconds of spotting the entrance. Towpath Tails Dog Park, just outside Pewsey, is the sort of place where mutts lose their minds in the best possible way - proper off-lead freedom along the canal towpath with water access and open space that goes on for ages.

It's genuinely brilliant if you've got a dog that needs to burn off energy without you worrying about traffic or leads. The towpath itself is flat and easy to walk, which means you're not knackered by the time you've done a circuit. You'll see herons, the occasional narrowboat, and plenty of other dog owners who actually know how to socialise their animals - a refreshing change from the usual chaos of town parks.

Bring water, though - there's canal water aplenty but you'll want something for yourself. Allow at least an hour if your dog's young and hyper, less if you're just popping by for a quick constitutional. Families with small children will find it workable, though toddlers aren't the priority here - this is dog territory.

If you're camping at Totteridge Farm or Hillview Park, both within spitting distance, this is your solution for keeping the dog happy between activities. It's free, accessible whenever the towpath is open, and beats paying for kennels or having a miserable pooch back at the tent. Not Instagram-worthy, not fancy, but exactly what working dogs need.