# Burbage Common & Woods
**Type:** Walk | **Location:** Hinckley, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom
**Murphy Approved** ✓ — personally visited and approved by Murphy & Me
**Murphy & Me Rating:** 4.3/5 (space, sniff factor, facilities, ease)
## About
Burbage Common & Woods is one of those big multi-car-park walks where you could turn up on a whim and end up with a completely different route depending on which end you start from. We came in through the common side which was a lovely sniffy start with plenty of space from any other dogs, although there were hardly any. The streams that usually run through the woods have basically turned to sludge in the heatwave — and Murphy had absolutely no intention of respecting that boundary.

The common itself opens right out — wide, grassy paths with proper elbow room, a nice contrast to the narrower, shadier tracks further into the woods. There were a few dogs off-lead among the trees, and it's worth flagging that squirrels are having an absolute field day there at the moment, so if your dog has a strong prey drive, that's one to think about before you unclip the lead.

There are several car parks, free of charge, all dotted around the site with multiple points to enter the woods, plus picnic benches, a children's play area, toilets and Acorns Café at the visitor centre — though the café was shut when we visited. It opens 9.30–4 weekdays, 9.30–4.30 weekends, so worth timing it right if that's part of the plan. We’ll definitely be making another trip to try it out. The woodland is apparently one of the last remaining fragments of the old medieval Hinckley Forest, which felt like a nice thing to know while Murphy stared longingly into a puddle he wasn't allowed near.

## Murphy's Verdict
*Reviewed by Murphy, Cavapoo and chief sniff tester at Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit*
> "Those puddles used to be an entire stream and Mum wouldn't let me anywhere near them, which feels like a real betrayal considering how hard I worked to find them 🐾"
## Highlights
- Wide, open paths on the common — plenty of room to spread out
- Woodland streams had dried to sludge in the heat (proper splash spot once they're flowing again)
- Squirrels everywhere — one to watch if you've got a high prey-drive dog off-lead
- Multiple car parks and woodland entry points, plus picnic benches and a play area
- Acorns Café was shut on our visit — check opening times before you rely on it
## Dog-Friendly Features
Free-Parking, Woodland, Gravel Paths, Space To Keep Distance
## About This Review
Burbage Common & Woods was personally visited by Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit, a trusted dog-friendly recommendation network covering Leicestershire and beyond. Every review is based on a genuine visit. No paid placements. Murphy approved where earned.
**Source:** [Burbage Common & Woods on Murphy & Me](https://murphyandme.co.uk/walks/burbage-common-woods)
**Publisher:** Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit | murphyandme.co.uk
**Published:** 2026-08-26