?imgeng=/w_auto,140/h_53 "svg-icon"){kind=logo}
Questions
- When are Dogs Allowed on the Beach?
- Best Dog Friendly Beaches in Cornwall
- Dog Friendly Beaches to Explore in Devon
- Dog Friendly Beaches in Dorset
- The Best Dog Friendly Beaches in Yorkshire
- Paw-some Dog Friendly Beaches in Bridlington
- Splash Around on a Dog Friendly Beach in Wales
- Keeping your Dog Cool at the Beach
With the warmer weather upon us, what better way to make the most out of it than with a day at the beach for all the family? Dogs just love to explore the sandy beaches and have a splash around in the water while they play with their favourite toys.
The tricky part about visiting the beach with the whole family in the summer is knowing which beaches do and don’t allow dogs. Some beaches allow dogs all year around while others are only open seasonally to our canine companions. Whilst other beaches don’t allow at all. We’ve searched high and low for some of the best dog friendly beaches you can take your pooch to this summer to enjoy a day out with the family.
When are Dogs Allowed on the Beach?
Every beach may have different rules so before you pack the car, make sure you know the rules of the beach you’re visiting. During the colder months when fewer people are wanting to spend the day at the beach, many local councils will allow dogs on them. This tends to be between the last day of September and the first day of May. Some beaches will lift their ban a little earlier at the end of August instead.
)
When dogs are allowed on the beach, there may also be some additional rules like they are not allowed off their lead, which will need to be respected if you’re planning a day out to a dog friendly beach.
Best Dog Friendly Beaches in Cornwall
Fistral Beach is one of the few Cornish beaches open to dogs all year around so if you’re looking to visit during summer, you may want to head towards Newquay. It’s another big surfing destination that also has beautiful golden sands. You can find information on the restrictions of dogs on beaches in Cornwall on the council website.
Polzaeth Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Cornwall. It’s known for its golden sands and great waves. The sunsets here are phenomenal but if you’re planning on visiting with your pup, it’s not dog friendly between the 15th of May and 30th of September. If you’re planning on visiting here it will have to be out of the peak season. Luckily, the restriction lifts at 6pm, even throughout the height of summer, so you can still catch a beautiful sunset with your beloved companion.
)
Carbis Bay Beach will have you thinking that you’ve accidentally found yourself on the Spanish coast with its beautiful crystal-clear waters. St Ives is a popular tourist destination and doesn’t allow dogs on the beach during the warmer months, but an off-season stroll, or an evening walk can still be beautiful with your pup.
Dog Friendly Beaches to Explore in Devon
Westward Ho! in North Devon is a popular dog walking beach all year around and only has restrictions during the summer months on the south end of the beach. It’s a long stretch of coastline that can be quite rocky in some places with a pebble beach that leads into sandy areas. The pebbles tend to make it less popular with other beach goes so dog walkers have adopted it as their own!
)
Woolacombe is another stunning beach in North Devon with restrictions during the summer months however if you keep your pooch on a lead, you can visit all year around. If you want a beach, you can run your dog off lead Hele Bay in Ilfracombe allows for dogs all year with no restrictions.
Dog Friendly Beaches in Dorset
There are plenty of beaches in Dorset to visit throughout the year with your family and pup, but some have restrictions in the warmer months. Some of the most popular beaches in Dorset have restrictions like Studland Bay asks for owners to have their dogs on leads shorter than two meters between the months of May and September.
Some beaches like Eype, Cogden Beach and Mudeford Sandbank allow for dogs to be off lead all year round. Perfect if you’re looking to visit the area with your beloved pets. There are also plenty of options to choose from if you want them to be able to have a nice run-around and play in the water.
The Best Dog Friendly Beaches in Yorkshire
North Yorkshire has some stunning beaches. Scarborough Beach is one of the biggest tourists’ attractions but does have restrictions during peak seasons where dogs are not allowed on the beaches.
)
Not all dog friendly beaches are composed of mostly rock and are less beautiful than beaches that impose restrictions over the summer months. Cayton Bay, just three miles from Scarborough is a predominantly sandy beach with stunning scenery that is dog friendly all year round. If you pay it a visit it’s also a popular surfing beach so, you’ll be sharing your space with some impressive waves.
Sandsend is a beach a couple of miles from Whitby that you can even walk to Whitby from during a low tide. It has seasonal restrictions between May and September but for evening walks and winter months, it’s a lovely, serene beach to explore with your four-legged friends.
Paw-some Dog Friendly Beaches in Bridlington
Bridlington has a choice of two beaches, the North Beach and the South Beach, both of which are restricted during summer months.
During the summer you can still take your pooch for a stroll here as long as you do not venture onto the main points of the beaches where holiday makers gravitate towards and the coastguard patrol.
Splash Around on a Dog Friendly Beach in Wales
The coasts of Wales are not only beautiful but you’re usually within a stone's throw of a dog friendly beach wherever you are. Rhosilli in The Gower is surrounded by beautiful greenery, so your dog can run around the grass on high tide and the sandy beaches at low tide. It’s a breath-taking beach and is open all year round to families with dog companions who want to come along.
)
Burry Port is another beautiful sandy beach that allows dogs all year around where you can have a stroll in the sand, play in the waves and walk right up to the lighthouse during low tide.
Church Bay in Anglesey is another dog friendly option for holidaymakers in Wales who have brought their dogs along. Like many of the beaches in Wales, there are also local coastal paths where you can follow along the cliffs and look out over the stunning scenery.
Keeping your Dog Cool at the Beach
If you’re planning on making the most out of the spectacular dog friendly beaches the UK has to offer, be sure to keep your pup nice and cool so they don’t overheat. While you lie on your beach towel, a cooling mat like the Crufts Pet Cooling Mat will mean your pup can snooze in the sun and not get too hot. There are also cooling bandanas, sweaters and coats that protect them from the sun’s heat.
Most importantly, make sure you have fresh drinking water, so they don’t try to cool off by drinking seawater. The Kong 9.5oz Steel Water Bottle in Black even has an attached dish to pour water into for your pooch to have a nice refreshing drink.
For everything you need to take the whole family to the beach and all your other doggy essentials, browse our wide range of stock in-store and online.