Most dogs absolutely love the beach, but unfortunately the feeling isn’t always mutual.
Many beaches in the UK don’t allow dogs, or restrict them to certain times of the year. If there are no clear signs it can be hard to know the rules - and there’s nothing more embarrassing than an officious passer-by giving you a telling off for bringing your dog to the wrong spot.
We love dogs at Coolstays and we’ve got hundreds of amazing dog friendly holiday properties available.
To help you plan the ultimate British seaside holiday with your furry friend, we’ve selected some of the very best dog friendly beaches around the country, some popular and well-known, others a little more off the beaten track. These are just a few of our favourites.
From sandy Cornish coves, to wild Atlantic stretches in the north of Scotland, these beaches are sure to set tails wagging.
Watergate Bay, Cornwall
Cornwall’s best beach? Well obviously there’s some competition for that title, but Watergate is definitely up there.
It’s an iconic two-mile stretch of golden sand on the Atlantic coast famous for surfing and sunsets. Come at low tide to make the most of the vast sands. It's well-equipped for visitors, you’ll find parking, toilets, surf shops and places to eat and drink. It can get busy, but that’s because it’s absolutely stunning - luckily it’s also huge, so you can head off towards the farthest ends to avoid the crowds. The wild Atlantic swell makes it a great surfing spot - but take care if your pup likes to swim.
Dogs are welcome all year round with no restrictions.
Stay at the gorgeous Watergate Bay Hotel, a luxury, dog friendly spot almost right on the sand.
Lantic Bay, Cornwall
Leave the Cornish crowds behind at this secluded hidden gem. With its green hillsides and deep, turquoise-coloured water Lantic Bay on Cornwall’s south coast looks more like the Mediterranean than England.
National Trust owned, it's ideal for a proper leg-stretch, with a pretty steep 20 minute scramble down from the car park to the beach. The walk and the lack of any facilities means you might well be the only person/pooch here, which makes this little cove feel even more magical.
It’s dog friendly all year round with no restrictions.
Stay at Old Lanwarnick Cottages, a small collection of snug hideaways on a Cornish farm a short drive from Lantic Bay, where dogs are made very welcome.
Saunton Sands, Devon
An epic three-mile stretch of flat sand backed by gentle dunes on Devon’s north coast. It’s popular, but the enormous scale of Saunton Sands means there’s ample room for zoomies, digging a hole or having a swim. The entrance, along with cafes and toilets, is at the northern end and the further south you walk the emptier it gets. There's also a rather nice beachside restaurant where dogs are welcome.
Behind the beach itself you'll find Bruton Burrows, a UNESCO-protected nature reserve of sand dunes crisscrossed with winding paths perfect for dog walks.
Dogs are welcome all year round with no restrictions.
Stay at The Chalet Saunton, a collection of luxury apartments and a penthouse, all with spectacular views of the beach.
West Wittering, West Sussex
A glorious swathe of golden sand - unusual on the south coast, which is mostly rather painful pebbles. West Wittering gets busy during peak season, but the beach is large enough that you can usually escape the throng and when the tide’s out it feels like the beach goes on forever. There’s a carpark, toilets and a dog-friendly cafe.
Dog are welcome but there are some restrictions: from the 1st May to mid-September dogs are not allowed in the area in front of the beach huts.
Stay at The Thatched Cottage West Wittering a charming cottage for eight, plus two dogs, with the beach on the doorstep.
Holkham Beach, Norfolk
A walk along boardwalks and through pine woods takes you down to Holkham Beach in North Norfolk, a vast area of seemingly endless sand. Even on busy days it’s easy to find your own space and the huge, open sands are just made for epic games of fetch.
Dogs are allowed all year round, however from 1st April to 31st August they must be kept on the lead until you pass the dunes in order to protect ground-nesting birds - but don’t worry that still leaves about 70% of the beach available for miles of off lead fun.
Stay at Peterstone Lodge, a wonderfully peaceful, dog friendly getaway for four, just a short walk from Holkham and the coast.
Barafundle Beach, Pembrokeshire
Pristine and fairly remote, Barafundle on the West Wales coast may only be small but it’s an absolute jewel. With its fine sand and blue water you could almost be in the Caribbean.
The steep-ish half-mile walk down from the car park is a good bit of cardio but it’s worth it - Barafundle is absolutely stunning. Wooded hillsides slope down to the sand, and at low tide there are cliffs and little caves to explore.
Dogs are allowed all year round with no restrictions.
Stay nearby at The Matchbox an impressive pad sleeping 8 plus dogs, a few miles up the coast at Freshwater East.
Rhossili, Gower
No round-up of dog friendly beaches could be complete without Rhossili. Often cropping up in lists of the best beaches in the world, and named the UK’s no.1 dog friendly beach by The Times, it’s an iconic location.
This breathtaking beach on the Gower Peninsula is reached down a steep path - you can find loos, a cafe and the carpark at the top. The views are just fabulous. The beach itself forms a sweeping curve of firm, clean sand, perfect for fabulous dog walks.
Dogs are welcome all year round with no restrictions.
Stay at Lower Mill, a superb restored watermill sleeping 5 plus the dog, just a short stroll from the dunes at Rhossili.
Fraisthorpe Beach, Yorkshire
Welcome to miles of flat golden sand stretching off in both directions. Fraisthorpe is in Yorkshire’s East Riding just outside Bridlington. It’s much-loved by dog walkers, with a car park at the top of the cliffs and a cute dog-friendly cafe for a brew. You can walk to Bridlington down the beach when the tide’s out, a nice stroll of about an hour.
Dogs are allowed all year round with no restrictions.
Stay at Foldyard House, a large and dog friendly property sleeping 16, a short distance down the coast from Fraisthorpe.
Bamburgh, Northumberland
Voted the best beach in the UK by Which? several years in a row, Bamburgh on the Northumberland coast doesn’t disappoint.
It’s all about the huge open sands, overlooked by the imposing castle - and as a bonus there’s the quaint village behind, where you can find a post-walk coffee and a bite to eat.
It’s generally fairly uncrowded, making it a great spot for a mad run-around or tennis ball games, followed by a cool-off in the North Sea.
Bamburgh is dog friendly all year round with no restrictions.
Stay at Bamburgh Castle View a spacious pad sleeping 16, plus dog, with fabulous views of the famous castle.
Westport Beach, Argyll
A gorgeous swathe of sugar sand that stretches for miles along the Mull of Kintyre’s Atlantic coast. There’s not a whole lot except the ocean between Westport and Newfoundland.
It’s a bracing spot, with long Atlantic breakers rolling in and a west facing location which makes it a magical location to watch the sunset. The surfing is amazing but be careful of the rip currents. It’s a stunning place for a dog walk with acres to run around and sand dunes and rockpools to nose about in.
Dogs are welcome all year round with no restrictions.
Stay at Argyll Country House a sumptuous manor house sleeping 25 plus two doggos, about a half hour's drive up the road.
Balnakiel Beach, Sutherland
On Scotland’s wild north west coast, Balnakiel is secluded and spectacular.
This wide cove of white sand is great for padding as the coast shelves off gently and the water can be surprisingly warm if the sun’s shining - the wind can still be pretty fresh though. It’s backed by sand dunes and overlooked by the rather stern Balnakeil House and the picturesque ruins of a church.
You won’t find any facilities, but there is a freshwater stream which meets the coast if your dog is thirsty. Be aware there are also some free ranging cows which sometimes like to sunbathe here.
Dogs are allowed all year round with no restrictions.
Stay at The Cabin, a snug wee spot for two or four guests, located in nearby Durness, Britain’s most north-westerly village.
Properties featured in this blog
Foldyard House
Bewholme - East Riding of Yorkshire
Sleeps 16
Perfect for a special celebration with groups of family and friends, Foldyard House is a beautiful conversion in the East Yorkshire countryside, 10 minutes from a dog-friendly beach and 20 minutes from the historic bustling market town of Beverley.
