An old favourite visited by thousands of dog owners every year is the beautiful Elvaston Castle located in the village of Elvaston, which is set perfectly between Derby and Nottingham.

This was a real favourite of ours when we used to take Bella for a walk and she loved nothing more than the opportunities she got to explore while she was there. And with Spring having arrived there's no better place than Elvaston Castle to see this season in all it's glory!

To give you a bit of a background to start, the estate was opened in 1970 and was one of the first country parks in England. Today both the buildings and gardens are registered as being of special architectural and historical interest so there’s a great deal to see while taking in the surroundings.

Elvaston W2S At the heart of the estate lies Elvaston Castle, a gothic revival masterpiece (not open to the public unfortunately) designed by James Wyatt in the early 1800s based on the original house dating back to 1633. Just to walk around the castle itself and take in the stunning design is a real must when visiting.

With stunning woodland walks it's a haven for birdsong and hearing the rustling of wildlife, so really is a peaceful way to escape the day to day grind. Some days you will pass a few people on your travels, but if like us you like the early morning walks, it's at these times when you can feel like you have the whole park to yourself and your K9 buddy!

If you like nothing more than a good couple of hours walking, we know that can make for thirsty work, so when it’s time for a tea break for you and water break for your doggy, there is a tea room situated just behind the castle with plenty of tables and chairs outside to be able to sit down and take a load off.

So whatever the season or occasion there is always lots to see and do in and around the park and what more perfect place to spend time with your furry friend!

This walk was submitted by Chris from Petstay Derby