The Bobster's favourite walkies - Pitshanger Park

When I am not travelling, or exploring somewhere new, I go to my local parks. Pitshanger Park is in Ealing, west London. It has a small free carpark, and there is ample free off-street parking in the neighbouring streets. The park has a playground and a playgroup, football and tennis coaching, newly refurbished tennis courts and lessons for all ages run by Will to Win. They also provide excellent coffee and snacks, including dog snacks  (woof!) at their café, which has a patio where we dogs can sit. More seating is provided on the grass area next to the courts. This is my usual park. I look forward to getting back to it whenever I have been away and sniff out exactly what has gone on in my absence.

wishful thinking, trying to catch the ball

The park is a great asset to the local area, from old to young (humans and dogs) and has its regular walkers, so I get to meet my friends here. Near the bowling green the council have planted wild flowers. These are a very pretty addition to the park. In the heat of summer I like to walk through the allotments which lead out then back into the park, but offer welcome shade.

The wild flowers near the bowling green

The Bobster's favourite walkies - Virginia Water Lake

The Virginia Water area is very affluent with huge houses, and a small village at its centre. It is near to Great Windsor Park, and can be reached by train. There is a large car park at the entrance, which my humans have always found a space in, even at the weekends at the height of summer. There is free parking available on the main road but this can be scarce and not so appealing if one brings small children.

Right inside the park is a fantastic café, with plenty of both indoor (no dogs)  and outdoor seating areas (woof!🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾)

I usually lead the human around the lake starting from the left side of the entrance. The first spot worth a sit-down or selfie comes soon at the waterfall which can be a torrent or trickle depending upon the time of year.

Then there are the ruins, which were a gift from Tripoli, Libya, to the Prince Regent at that time and reconstructed within the great park in the 1800s.

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The walk around the lake is pretty much circular. The shorter route is 4.5 miles and is really beautiful. The first half is around the lake edge,  there is another small café about midway, and the second half veers into more of a country feel. Once you reach the totem pole your walk is almost done. There are only a couple of small areas of specially planted blooms where dogs are not permitted but I have never felt that this has lessened my appreciation for this wonderful park 5 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

The first time the humans took me there they remarked that it looked like Switzerland. This is as close as I will ever get to the Swiss lakes, but I ain't complaining.

 If it gets a little hot I can take a dip. The water is clean and fresh. This whole park is very well maintained and a gift on Londoner's doorstep.

After our walk me and the humans like to go to eat at the Wheatsheaf, which is just a couple of minutes walk from the lake exit. You can move your car and park there for free, or just the car where it is, as it is really just by the lake. It is dog-friendly in the restaurant's large bar area, has  a large outdoor seating area, which is perfect for summer. However,  dogs are not allowed to stay at the hotel itself. 4🐾🐾🐾🐾