Shotteswell Dog Walking Fields

A proper working landscape rather than a manicured attraction, Shotteswell Dog Walking Fields lives up to its name - this is where locals bring their mutts to burn off energy across open Northamptonshire countryside. You won't find visitor facilities or marked trails here. What you get instead is space: rolling fields where dogs can actually run without a lead, and enough room that you won't feel hemmed in by other walkers on a busy weekend.

The appeal is straightforward. If you're touring with a caravan from one of the nearby sites - Anita's or Fir Tree are just down the road - and you've got a dog going stir-crazy after a few hours' driving, this is the answer. The fields are genuinely flat and open, which means you can see your dog at distance and won't lose them in scrubland. Families with energetic terriers or working breeds will find it useful rather than entertaining.

There's no gate fee as far as I can tell, and it costs nothing to park nearby. Allow 30 to 45 minutes if you want a proper walk rather than a quick dash about. Go early morning or late afternoon to miss the school-run crowds. The site itself won't hold your attention on its own - it's purely functional - but paired with the Oxford area's actual attractions and a base at one of the caravan parks within walking distance, it does the job. Bring wellies. The ground gets boggy after rain.