Harlestone Firs

Harlestone Firs which is located in the north of Northampton is popular location with a variety of local users including mountain bikers, photographers and dog walkers (the main focus of this article). It’s open access land that’s owned by the Althorp Estate.

Parking

For those wishing to visit Harlestone Firs there are a number of free parking options. Many will park just outside the Dobbies Garden Centre which is opposite the main entrance, shown in the image at the top of this article. The main problem with parking here is that it’s on a very busy road with no pedestrian crossing and it can take a while to actually get to the other side of the road (not ideal if you have a few dogs with you).

As a result many dog walkers will park on York Way, a turning off the roundabout closest to the garden centre that leads to a fairly new housing estate. Parking on the left hand side of York Way means you don’t have to cross any roads to gain access to Harlestone Firs via one of the narrow paths that lead into the woods.

Facilities

Harlestone Firs is one of those natural woodlands that doesn’t benefit from having many facilities like toilets or a cafe, unlike say Salcey Forest.

The Paddock Pantry

However there is a small portable cafe in an old horsebox known as The Paddock Pantry which is located near the main entrance most weekends. It’s sometimes seen there on weekdays too but I think this is only during the summer or when there are school holidays. The Paddock Pantry sometimes has a couple of folding seats outside and will often have water bowls and treats for dogs.

Dobbies Garden Centre

After you have walked your dog you might want to visit Dobbies Garden Centre. As well as the usual plants and equipment you expect to find in a garden centre, it also contains a number of interesting little shops. These include a Waitrose Food Hall, a Cotton Traders, Maidenhead Aquatics and even Pets Corner Harlestone. There is also a cafe that serves hot and cold food and I believe some of the tables are considered a dog friendly area.

Harlestone Firs Circular Walks

Once parked up there are a number of different circular walks you can do that will lead you back to your car. Whether your dog just needs 30 minutes or an hour or longer there are enough pathways within the woods to keep you busy. Despite a lack of signs I feel it’s difficult to get lost here as you can usually hear the distant sound of the rumble of the main road from anywhere within the park. Dog waste bins are sadly lacking with just one located near the main entrance. It seems that a ‘stick and flick’ policy is the accepted norm here but I still prefer to bag dog waste when I can. Fortunately the dogs I walk at Harlestone Firs tend to do ‘their business’ very early on the walk and I pick a circular walk that sees me passing the only bin early on.

Depending on your dog’s personality there are a few potential hazards you might encounter at Harlestone Firs. It’s fairly popular with cyclists and montain bikers but to be fair I rarely encounter any during the week. You may however encounter a horse or two, again a fairly rare occurance but it does happen. A few times recently a path or two has been closed due to tree felling. The only other consideration that is relevant to dog owners is that Harlestone Firs can get quite wet and muddy in the winter. Most dogs don’t seem to mind muddy conditions but if you want to limit the amount of dirt that enters your home or time spent cleaning your dog then there are other dog walking locations that offer better drainage in the winter.

Harlestone Firs is the home to a selection of wildlife. You may encounter a variety of birds, insects and butterflies and a selection of mammals, especially squirrels which keeps the dogs I walk entertained! It’s also popular with photographers due to the lovely light you can often find under the tree canopy. I regularly use if for dog portraits but I’ve also seen photographers here carrying out outdoor family portraits.

In Summary

For those looking for a great location to walk your dog in Northamptonshire, Harlestone Firs has a lot to offer. Unfortunately there is a lot of new houses being built in the area and I have concerns about how this will impact the level of traffic in the area and how it might cause parking problems for those wishing to visit.

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts about Harlestone Firs, whether you are a dog owner or just like to visit for other reasons. Feel free to leave a comment!