We know it can be hard to leave your four-legged friend at home and not bring them out to lunch with you after a long country walk. That's why we’ve put together a list of dog-friendly pubs in Hertfordshire, with plenty of walks nearby so that you can take your pup for a stroll - it’s the leashed you could do!
A walk around the old city and its historic buildings is ideal any time of the year, but stretching your legs further out to the city walls, toward the London Gate and then heading up and down its Roman trenches is sure to make you work up an appetite. As soon as you’re ready for a quick post walk pint, head to Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, a favourite St Albans dog friendly pub, serving local ales for you, and if your pooch is well behaved they may even get a dog treat! Check out the full route on our winter walks page.
City history and local ales
Walking through the Chess Valley is one of the most popular routes in Hertfordshire, stopping by pretty villages and rural beauty. Whether you stretch as far as the full circular route of 7 miles or not, you must make a point to stop by Flaunden for some food and drink. The village is home to the award winning Bricklayer's Arms, which has won County Dining Pub of the Year four times - and being in the centre of the countryside is one of the best dog-friendly pubs around!
Pub of the year for your pooch
Rickmansworth photo courtesy of Josef Von Meronitz
Situated right on the village green in Sarratt, the Cricketers is the perfect country pub to complement your Sunday afternoon dog walk. With a menu that changes each day you're sure to get enough energy for your wander, as will your pupper too as they can stock up on dog treats! Once you've dined, head out on another variation of the Chess Valley route. As you're in the middle of the 10 miles that runs from Rickmansworth to Chesham you can do however much or little you wish.
Good boys welcome in Sarratt
Plenty of history and charm awaits at Winkwell's 16th century Three Horseshoes pub, which sits on the water's edge of the Grand Union Canal that runs right through Dacorum. From British favourites using locally sourced produce, to dishes from across the world such as mezze platters, the pub is a quaint hideaway that is perfect for you and your pup. After all of that banqueting, take to the towpaths of the Grand Union Canal and perhaps even stretch your legs right up to Berkhamsted, which at two and a half miles, is quite a hefty walk but might be needed after all that food! Horseshoes and tow paths
After a walk in Watford, head out to the Villiers Arms which is a typical local, with old advertising adorning the walls and serving pub favourites. Better still, it's of course dog friendly so you can bring your best friend to sit and watch the world go by. A little further into Bushey Heath is the Royal Oak. A gastropub with British classics combined with dishes from a little further afield, the eclectic interior plays host to comfy chairs and reflects the welcoming nature of this community pub. Town centre jaunts and drinks
All creatures great and small are welcome into the beautiful St Albans Cathedral, well dogs are at least! Once you taken in that incredible architecture and beauty of the cathedral, the surrounding parkland makes for the ultimate walk with glorious views for you and sniffing spots for your pooch. Afterwards, tired paws can rest up in the Abbot's Kitchen Cafe for a cup of tea and an Alban Bun!
