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In a Nutshell
A National Trust property, Attingham is a favourite with dog walkers, offering extensive parkland and woodland grounds with good paths for walks both short and long. Parking and Pooping
Attingham lies south east of Shrewsbury, easily accessible from the Midlands via the M54 and A5, or from other directions via the A5 Shrewsbury ring road. Although a popular site, there is plenty of parking, with overflow field parking available on peak days so you can be confident of getting parked. There is plenty of grass as you walk from the car park via the ticket office to the courtyard, and generally there are dog waste bins located around the estate. Toilets are provided in the courtyard near the café, and also by the mansion house and childrens' play area. There is no separate charge for parking, but as a NT property there is an entrance charge for non-members. 
 Paths are wide and well maintained for easy walking
Walkies
From the courtyard, you have a number of options for walks around the estate. Most of these are on wide hard-core paths, making for easy walking all year round. Attingham makes a good choice in the winter for this reason as pup doesn't get muddy. The estate combines parkland and woodland walks, as well as a walled garden and deer park zone. The paths interconnect so you can choose your walk length to suit, with a full perimeter walk using the woodland park route being about 2 miles. There is a signposted 'mile walk' that brings you along the riverside or you can just meander around the grounds by the house. The terrain is quite flat, so easy walking and the wide paths mean there is plenty of space for all, even on the busiest days. With its mix of parkland and woodland paths, you can choose your walk to suit the weather, with the woodland and 'mile walk' offering good levels of shade for the hotter days. |
Keeping the Humans Amused
In addition to the grounds, Attingham opens the mansion house extensively during the year. They are currently developing the 'playing fields' area, a large open space laid out with a variety of play equipment and spaces for activities aimed at the younger visitors. In the courtyard there is the usual NT shop and quite a large two story second-hand bookshop, with books all at £1 for paperbacks and £2 for hardbacks. 
Chow Time
The National Trust café here is not dog friendly inside (boo!). However the archways seen above on the left side of the picture are available for undercover seating, so you can at least get out of the rain and wind, but these are not heated. The food offer is a little confusing. There is a take out counter on the left, which has drinks and a very limited food offer - a sort of 'grab and go' offer. If you want more choice, join the 'sit in' queue, where you can choose from the larger café menu and they will deliver food to you outside using a locator 'puck' they give you when you order. It's worth noting that the playing fields area has its own small grab and go counter, if you want to avoid a queue at the courtyard. There is a further tearoom at the side of the mansion house that opens during peak season, with seating outside. 
The estate offers parkland, woodland and riverside walks
Tried & Tested
Courtyard café - selection of cakes and light bites at reasonable prices. Table service to limited undercover seating, or courtyard seating, not dog friendly inside the café though. More Info
The National Trust - Attingham Park Last Visit: Mar 2023
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