Dedham

Walking the dogs around Dedham is a lovely thing to do. The surrounding area, known romantically as Dedham Vale, is famed for its connections to John Constable, the English pastoral landscape painter. Thanks to the National Trust, much of the physical landscape that Constable knew has been either preserved or restored and along the village high street there are several access points to footpaths and bridleways that lead away from the village and out onto the open countryside. Near the Sun Inn, in the centre of the village, you will find the Grammar School. John Constable was a pupil here in the late 1700s and Dedham receives many of its tourists due to this historic connection. The imposing brick built house is now a private residence, and carved into the brick are hundreds of names of the young lads that attended the school over the years. The lane in front of the school leads to the village playing field. The JohnJohn playing field offers a good size, safe, off the lead walk and this is where you can find the majority of the village poo bins. Home to the local cricket club, and the football field, it is likely the area becomes a bit busy at times so best to enter on the lead and look around before letting your hound(s) free. Dedham is certainly a popular spot for country pursuits and dog walking, with lots of visitors and dogs out and about, in the village and out for walks. If you are lucky to be here for a full day, you could take advantage of the Constable Walk , a circular walk that starts at Manningtree train station and winds for seven miles in figure of eight along and around the river Stour. Taking in Flatford Mill and Dedham village on the way, this is a real treat and one of the best ways to experience the quintessential English countryside that Constable captured in his paintings.

View Dog Friendly Suffolk Walks & Pubs in a larger map