Last updated: February 2026
Spring in Essex: the best season to be out with your dog
After months of short days, mud, and that particular grey drizzle that Essex does so well in winter, spring arrives and everything changes. The light gets brighter. The air gets warmer. Bluebells appear in ancient woodlands. Outdoor cafes start putting their tables back out. And your dog, who has been tolerating their winter routine with varying degrees of patience, suddenly has a whole new world to explore.
Spring in Essex is genuinely beautiful, and it is one of the best times of year to get out with your dog. Here are our favourite spring days out, covering everything from bluebell walks to country park visits, outdoor cafes to seasonal tips you need to know.
Bluebell walks: the highlight of spring
If you do one thing with your dog in spring, make it a bluebell walk. Essex has some exceptional bluebell woodlands, and the display, usually peaking in late April to mid-May, is something special.
Blake's Wood, Danbury
Blake's Wood is a National Trust ancient woodland near Danbury, and its bluebell display is one of the best in Essex. The woodland floor turns a vivid blue-purple in late April, and the effect, combined with the fresh green of the emerging canopy above, is stunning.
Dogs are welcome in Blake's Wood, though we would ask that you keep them on the main paths during bluebell season. The flowers are delicate, and a dog charging through them can flatten an area surprisingly quickly. Stick to the paths, admire the view, and let the bluebells do their thing undisturbed.
The walk itself is gentle and manageable for most fitness levels. You can combine it with a visit to nearby Danbury Country Park for a longer outing.
Norsey Wood, Billericay
Norsey Wood is another ancient woodland with a spectacular bluebell display. The wood has a history stretching back thousands of years, and walking among the bluebells here feels like stepping into something timeless.
The paths are well-marked, and the wood is a manageable size for a pleasant morning or afternoon walk. Dogs are welcome, and the same advice applies: keep to the paths during bluebell season. The rest of the year, the wood is a lovely spot for a quiet walk through coppiced woodland with your dog.
Country parks in spring
Spring breathes new life into Essex's country parks. The grass turns green, the trees leaf out, and the wildlife becomes more active. It is a great time to revisit familiar parks or explore new ones.
Marsh Farm Country Park
Spring at Marsh Farm coincides with lambing season, which is exciting but comes with an important caveat for dog owners. Keep your dog on a lead at all times near livestock. Ewes with young lambs are extremely protective, and even a friendly, curious dog can cause real stress to sheep and their lambs. Dogs and livestock do not mix. A lead is non-negotiable.
Away from the livestock areas, Marsh Farm's 300 acres of marshland and riverside paths are lovely in spring. The wildflowers start appearing, the birds are active, and the River Crouch looks its best in spring sunshine.
Danbury Country Park and Common
The wildflower meadows at Danbury come alive in spring, and the newly leafed woodland is full of birdsong. The elevated position on the ridge means you catch the spring sunshine earlier and longer than the valleys below. It is a wonderful spot for a morning walk when the season is turning.
Canal towpath walks
The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation towpath is particularly pleasant in spring. The bankside vegetation is fresh and green, the water is clear, and the gentle, flat terrain makes it an easy walk for dogs of all ages and abilities.
Spring brings more boats to the canal too, which some dogs find fascinating (and others find deeply suspicious). The towpath is flat, mostly dry in spring compared to winter, and offers long, peaceful stretches where you can walk at your own pace without worrying about hills or difficult terrain.
We took a group walk along the towpath last spring and watched as Chester, a young Dachshund from our day care, spent twenty minutes staring intently at a narrowboat, apparently trying to work out whether it was alive. His owner eventually had to carry him past it. Some mysteries are too big for small dogs.
Outdoor cafes opening up
One of the small pleasures of spring is outdoor cafe seating returning. After months of being stuck inside (or braving the cold on a bench), you can once again sit outside with your dog and enjoy a coffee in the sunshine.
Many of the cafes in our dog-friendly cafes guide have outdoor seating that comes into its own in spring. Paper Mill Lock Tearooms by the canal, Osea View Cafe overlooking the estuary, Wilma's Bakery in Rayleigh: all lovely spots when the weather warms up.
Garden centre visits
Spring is peak garden centre season, which means it is worth knowing which ones welcome dogs. As we covered in our dedicated guide, most garden centres in Essex do NOT allow dogs, so check before you go. Summerhill Garden Centre in Billericay does allow dogs in most areas, making it one of the better options for a spring visit.
If the garden centre is a no-go, combine your plant shopping with a walk at a nearby country park instead. Drop your dog at the car with a family member, nip into the garden centre, and then head to the park together. It takes a bit more planning, but it keeps everyone happy.
Spring picnics with your dog
Once the weather warms up enough to sit on the ground without regretting it, a spring picnic in one of Essex's parks is a lovely way to spend a few hours. Hylands Park and Danbury Country Park both have beautiful spots for a picnic with your dog. Pack a blanket, some food, water for your dog, and enjoy the sunshine.
A word of caution: spring picnic weather can be deceptive. The sun might feel warm, but the ground can still be cold and damp. A waterproof blanket is a worthwhile investment, and layers are essential because the temperature can drop quickly when a cloud passes over. But when the sun is out and the bluebells are blooming, an Essex spring picnic is hard to beat.
Seasonal tips for spring dog walking
Spring is wonderful, but it brings a few hazards that dog owners should be aware of:
Livestock awareness
Spring means lambs, calves, and other young farm animals. If you are walking anywhere near farmland, keep your dog on a lead. It does not matter how well-trained your dog is or how friendly they are. Near livestock, the lead goes on. Every time. No exceptions.
Under the Animals Act 1971, a farmer has the legal right to shoot a dog that is worrying their livestock. It is an extreme measure, but it highlights how seriously livestock owners take the threat. Keep your dog on a lead and there is no issue at all.
Tick season
Ticks become active as the weather warms, and spring walks through long grass, heathland, and woodland put your dog at risk. Check your dog thoroughly after every walk, paying particular attention to ears, armpits, groin, and around the eyes and muzzle.
If you find a tick, remove it promptly with a proper tick removal tool (the hook type works best). Do not squeeze the tick body, apply Vaseline, or burn it off. Quick, clean removal with the right tool is the safest approach. Speak to your vet about tick prevention treatments, especially if you walk regularly in tick-prone areas.
Grass seeds
From late spring onwards, grass seeds become a hazard. The arrow-shaped seeds of common grasses can lodge in your dog's ears, eyes, nose, paws (particularly between the toes), and coat. Once embedded, they can burrow into the skin and cause infections or abscesses.
After walks through long grass, check your dog's feet, ears, and coat carefully. Trimming the fur between your dog's toes can help reduce the risk. If your dog is suddenly shaking their head, limping, or persistently licking one spot, grass seeds are a likely culprit, and a vet visit may be needed.
Adder awareness
Adders are the UK's only venomous snake, and they emerge from hibernation in spring. They are found in heathland, woodland edges, and rough grassland. Adder bites in dogs are not common in Essex, but they do happen, particularly in spring when the snakes are sluggish and more likely to be trodden on.
Keep your dog on paths in known adder areas, and if your dog is bitten, seek veterinary attention immediately. Do not try to treat it yourself.
Key takeaways
- Spring is one of the best seasons for dog walks in Essex, with bluebell woodlands, country parks, and outdoor cafes all at their best.
- Blake's Wood and Norsey Wood offer stunning bluebell displays from late April.
- Keep dogs on leads near livestock, especially during lambing season.
- Check for ticks after every walk and be aware of grass seeds from late spring.
- For safe, secure off-lead exercise, book a session at our dog parks.
- Need a dog walker for those spring days when you cannot get out yourself? Browse our dog walking directory.
Written by the Wagtails team, qualified dog professionals based in Rettendon, Essex. We run 5-star licensed day care and three private dog parks, and we work with a network of trusted trainers, walkers, and groomers across the county.
