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Riverside Park Nature Reserve
Riverside Park Nature Reserve is a park near Abbotswood, Surrey. We rate it Great for off-lead dog walking (71 out of 100): 6.0 miles of paths, water on site, car park and SANG (designed for dog walking).
| Off the lead? | No rules found: check the signs |
|---|---|
| Where | Park near Abbotswood, Surrey |
| Size | About 170 acres (68 ha) |
| Water for a swim | There's a lake and a canal, with spots where dogs can swim. |
| Parking | There are several car parks on or near it. |
| Livestock | At some times of year |
| Ground | It can be muddy in places after rain (the ground is mostly sandy soil that drains quickly). |
| Shade | 38% woodland |
| Suggested loop | 1.8 miles, about 45 minutes |
What it's like
A large park of about 170 acres, with 6.0 miles of paths. There's a lake and a canal, with spots where dogs can swim. It can be muddy in places after rain (the ground is mostly sandy soil that drains quickly). It's a mix of woodland and open ground. A main road runs close to one edge. There are several car parks on or near it. Guildford Borough Council lists it as a SANG, a green space set aside for dog walkers.
Dogs
We couldn't find any published rules about dogs here. That doesn't mean there aren't any, so check the signs when you arrive.
You're responsible for your dog. Before you let it off the lead, read the signs at the entrance, look out for livestock and roads, and make sure it will come back when called.
Watch out for
- Cattle or sheep graze here at some times of year. Put your dog on a lead near them.
Parking
- Car park · Directions
- Car park · free · 5 m from the edge · Directions
- Car park · free · 36 m from the edge · Directions
- Car park · free · 62 m from the edge · Directions
Suggested loop
A 1.8-mile loop from the car park, about 45 minutes at a dog's pace, almost all of it inside the site.
Shown dashed on the map above. Drawn by computer from OpenStreetMap paths. We haven't walked it: paths can be missing, private, closed or overgrown.
Pubs and cafés nearby
- Starbucks · Café · · 0.4 mi from the car park · Directions
- The Bakery · Café · · 0.5 mi from the car park · Directions
- Anchor and Horseshoes · Pub · · 0.6 mi from the car park · Directions
From OpenStreetMap. Dog policies only show where someone has mapped them, and they change. Run one of these? Get listed
Questions
Can dogs go off the lead at Riverside Park Nature Reserve?
We couldn't find any published rules about dogs here. That doesn't mean there aren't any, so check the signs when you arrive.
Is there parking at Riverside Park Nature Reserve?
There are several car parks on or near it.
Can dogs swim at Riverside Park Nature Reserve?
There's a lake and a canal, with spots where dogs can swim.
Are there cows or sheep at Riverside Park Nature Reserve?
At some times of year cattle or sheep graze here. Put your dog on a lead near them.
Is Riverside Park Nature Reserve muddy?
It can be muddy in places after rain (the ground is mostly sandy soil that drains quickly).
How long is a walk at Riverside Park Nature Reserve?
Our suggested loop is about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) from the car park and takes about 45 minutes at a dog's pace.
Where this comes from
Guildford Borough Council reserve near Bowers Lane/Stoke Lock; the name Abbotswood is not in the sources. Local press advises leads because cattle graze the meadows in spring to autumn; dogs may paddle in shallows. No official rule found.
Researched online in November 2026. Nobody from Find Dog Walks has checked this place in person. Mud and shade are estimated from geology and woodland maps.
Something wrong? Open it on the map and use "Report a problem with this page", or email [email protected].
Nearby walks
- Stoke Park
- Parsonage Water Meadows
- Part of Merrow Common
- Stringers Common
- Part of Clandon Park
- Whitmoor Common
More walks near Guildford, Woking, or all of Surrey.