Visit to Cirencester Park

One of my all time favourite local dog friendly days out, or weekends away in our motorhome, is to visit Cirencester Park. Cirencester is a stunning Cotswold market town, steeped in Roman history. It is very dog friendly all year round so if you’re travelling with dogs through the Cotswolds make sure to add a visit to Cirencester park to your itinerary.

If you’ve never visited this area of the Cotswolds before then keep reading to find out why I love to spend time in and around Cirencester park.

Dog Friendly walk around Cirencester Park

About Cirencester Park

Cirencester Park is set within The Bathurst Estate in the heart of the Cotswolds. A 15,000 acre parkland and working farm area. The Bathurst family originate from Sussex. In 1695, Sir Benjamin Bathurst purchased Cirencester Park, known then as Oakley Grove. It was gifted to his eldest son, Allen, who became the 1st Earl Bathurst. The Bathurst Estate has remained in the same family ever since and is currently run by the 9th Earl Bathurst.

The Mansion was built by the 1st Earl on the foundations of an original Tudor-Jacobean house. The park landscape has been designed and extended since the 18th century into the majestic and stately park we see today. Most noticeably is The Broad Avenue, which runs five miles in length from the Cirencester end of the park, up to Sapperton at the other end of the estate.

Take a Walk Around Cirencester Park dog friendly cotswolds — The Broad Avenue looking towards Cecily Hill – Cirencester Park

Cirencester Park was originally a deer park, and is still home to a herd of deer today, although I’ve yet to spot any of them on my visits. During the First World War the park became a military camp. It was also used again during the second World War to house two military hospitals for the US army. Sadly parts of the estate were damaged and trees were felled for the wood for military use. However, in 1997 Lord Bathurst started a restoration project to reinstate the park back to its former glory. The park has been generously opened back up to the locals and thousands of visitors each year, who can enjoy this beautiful stately park once again. As a local myself I am very grateful that it is open and free for me to use. Poppy and Coco are rather pleased about that too 🙂

A walk around cirencester park - visitor board about the restoration plans — Look out for the Visitor Board about the restoration project

Did You Know:

Cirencester Park was used in the BBC’s Poldark series. The Bathurst Estate is a perfect filming location for classic period dramas as well as wildlife documentaries such as Tony Robinson’s Coast to Coast documentary. You never know what may be going on when you visit Cirencester Park.

Why visit Cirencester Park?

Here are just a few of the things you can see and do on a walk around Cirencester park:

Get Outdoors – surround yourself with nature and wildlife and lots of fresh air
Take a walk – you can download a walking guide to explore the many paths and trails
Walk the Dog – give your dog a fun play date in this dog friendly park. We met lots of dogs running and playing together today including a very determined cockapoo with a stick almost big as he was! That stick was definitely going home with him 🙂
Cheer on the Cirencester Polo team – founded in 1894 under the 7th Earl Bathurst, Cirencester Park is the oldest Polo Club in the country. Sundays are the traditional Cirencester Park polo club match days and the best chance to catch the tournament finals.
Wander around a Cross Country Horse Trials Event – held regularly throughout the year.
Watch a Cricket Match – founded in 1842 Cirencester Cricket Club has a rich history of cricket in Gloucestershire. There are several league teams playing on most Saturdays.
Anyone for Tennis? – Tennis players of all standards and ages can play on the Cirencester Tennis Club there are seven all-weather, floodlit, courts.

How To Find Cirencester Park

Cirencester park is located in The Bathurst Estate, just off the A419 Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 2BU.

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Where To Eat And Drink Nearby

Following a walk around Cirencester Park head along The Broad Avenue, towards the church tower. There is an AirStream Cafe inside the park that sells drinks and snacks. Alternatively, just a stones throw away is the market town of Cirencester, easily signposted and a short walk from the Cecily Hill park gates. Cirencester is a pretty Cotswolds market town with a good selection of boutique and gift shops and plenty of places to eat and drink.

Try something different:

Cirencester has some fabulous Roman visitor attractions including:

Corinium Museum – significant finds from the Roman town of Corinium, now known as Cirencester. From Prehistoric tools to Roman mosaics and more.
Cirencester Amphitheatre – earthwork remains of one of the largest Roman amphitheatres in Britain (English heritage site).
New Brewery Arts Centre – A converted Victorian brewery housing a contemporary art gallery, craft shop and cafe, a theatre and twelve on-site maker studios. I love wandering around the art gallery at their latest collection.
Corn Hall Indoor market – themed market days throughout the year
Corinium Ales – a micro brewery offering local beers, brewery tours and a Brewery Shop, Tap Room & Courtyard. Highly recommended, and it’s dog friendly too so this is always a stop for us on our visit to Cirencester.

Secret Cirencester: David Elder (Oct 2022)

Much of the fascinating history of Cirencester has either been overlooked or lies hidden below the surface. Well-known local author David Elder delves deep into Cirencester’s lost, forgotten and hidden histories. Read about some of Cirencester’s celebrities and local characters. The author also unearths fascinating facts, and features, such as the town’s accolade of having the UK’s oldest public outdoor swimming pool. The book will help you discover some of the hidden or lost historical buildings, which you can explore or search for during your visit to Cirencester. There’s also fun facts such as why it was important for passengers travelling on the railways around the mid-nineteenth century to understand that Cirencester time was 7 ½ minutes earlier than London time. Order your copy today

Useful Information

The park is FREE to enter between 8am and 5pm.
A large area of the park is dog friendly with clearly marked off-lead and on-lead walking areas. There are dog bins located at regular intervals around the park. You can download a dog walking map of the park before you visit.

There are a number of short and long stay car parks easily sign posted as you approach Cirencester from the A419. I wouldn’t recommend them for motorhome owners to use. I haven’t spotted anywhere suitable for motorhomes for camper vans to park here as yet but I’ll keep a look out and update this post if I find any.
Cirencester Park has a Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite within the grounds of the park. It is very popular so you’ll need to book in advance. You can find out more here.
Cirencester Park is open all year round. With well maintained wooded trails and the main drive pathway makes a walk around Cirencester Park enjoyable spring, summer, autumn and winter.