Burton Dassett Hills, Warwickshire: a Paws-on Review by Mahlow

Introduction (The "Carpark Wiggles")

The rumbling box stopped after a zoomy ride on the fast road, and my human said the magic 'W' word! I couldn't wait to get out. As soon as the door opened, a wave of hot air hit me, but it couldn't stop my tail from thumping. My nose went into overdrive with the smells of hot tarmac, crunchy dry grass, and the very exciting aroma of sheepies! I knew this was going to be a good sniffari.

The Walk "De-Tails"
Location:	Southam, Warwickshire, CV47 2AB
Distance & Time:	3.30 miles / Approx. 1hr 50mins
Difficulty:	🐾🐾🐾 (A proper leg-stretcher)
Terrain:	Mainly grass and earth paths which are very steep and exposed in places. Can get dusty when dry and slippery when wet.
Parking:	Several pay and display car parks on site. Can get very busy on sunny days, so get there early for a good spot!
Stiles:	None! Hooray!
Livestock:	Yes, grazing sheep and cattle are common. The area is open, so keep dogs on a lead when they are near.
Off-Leash Potential:	Lots - The rolling hills are wide open, perfect for a good run away from roads, providing you have good recall.
Reactivity Rating:	4/5 - "We only saw sheepies! But my nose said lots of dogs visit, so it's probably much busier on weekends."
Poo Bins:	Yes, located at the car parks at the start and finish.
Water for Dogs:	None on the trail. It's very exposed, so you must bring your own water bottle, especially on a warm day!
Human Fuel:	Picnic benches are on site. Watch out for turkey-loving pups!

The Main Adventure (The "Sniffari")

The Sniff Report

My paws had barely touched the ground when I dragged my human towards the grass. I had important business to attend to—announcing my arrival to all the dogs that would come after me! My first stop was one of those black boxes humans put rubbish in. The smells were overwhelming! But then, a sweet, delicious scent floated past my nose. I followed it... TURKEY! Someone had dropped the best part of their sandwich near a picnic bench. My whole body wiggled with excitement, but just as I was about to investigate, my human spotted it and pulled me away. So close!

The Path Under My Paws

The ground here felt funny. The grass wasn't soft and wet; it was crunchy and dry under my paws from all the sun. The paths were big and wide, mostly dusty earth that poofed up a little with each step. It was easy walking for my paws, but I had to work hard going up the big hills! It felt like climbing a mountain to get to the very best sniffing spots at the top.

Obstacle Course or Open Field?

This walk was all about freedom! No tricky stiles to worry my paws with. Just massive, rolling hills that went on forever. I could see for miles and miles—other hills, tiny human boxes moving far away, and lots of fluffy clouds. I felt like the king of the world standing up there, with the wind in my ears. I could have run and done zoomies forever, but the sun made the ground very hot.

Friend or Foe?

My nose told me that LOTS of other dogs love this place. Their smells were everywhere, telling stories of their own sniffaris. But on our adventure, we didn't see a single one. It felt like we had the whole park to ourselves! We did see some of those woolly "sheepies" in the distance, but they kept to themselves, and my human told me to be a good boy and not get any closer. Because it was so open, I could see everything, which meant no surprise dogs jumping out from behind a corner.

The Human's Verdict

While Mahlow enjoyed the quiet exploration, it's clear that we visited at a very hot and likely off-peak time. The sheer number of parking spaces and picnic benches tells you this is a very popular spot. On a cooler day or a weekend, this park would be bustling. Given the extreme heat, we kept the walk short and made sure Mahlow had plenty of water and rest in the shade. Always check the weather before you go, as there is very little shelter from the sun or wind on the hilltops.

Mahlow's Final Verdict & Rating

This was a top-tier sniffari with views fit for a king! I loved the big open space and the fact I could see for miles. The smells were fantastic, even if I was cruelly denied the delicious turkey treasure. It was very, very hot, and my paws got tired on the steep bits, but I would definitely wag my tail for this walk again... maybe when it's not so sunny!

Mahlow gives this walk 4 out of 5 Paws! 🐾🐾🐾🐾

Click here for full walk details including how to get there.

Have you and your pup explored Burton Dassett Hills? Share your own 'Paws-on Review' in the comments and tell us what you thought! Did you find any dropped sandwiches?