The 7 Best Dog-Friendly Walks in Dorset
If you’re looking for the best dog-friendly walks in Dorset, you’ve come to the right place! Dorset boasts a...
by Jack Price / Pet Friendly
There’s much for your furry friend to enjoy at the beach, from playing fetch to going for a swim. Devon’s dog-friendly beaches are arguably some of the best beaches in the UK; making it the perfect destination for any beach lover with a pampered pooch.
In this post, we highlight our favourite dog-friendly beaches in Devon, covering both North and South Devon. So if you’re looking for the perfect beach, you’ve come to the right place!
Read more to find our favourite dog-friendly beaches in Devon…
First up on our guide to the best dog-friendly Devon beaches is Saunton Sands. As one of the best beaches in North Devon, it is the perfect place for your pooch to go for a paddle.
Sitting in the UNESCO North Devon biosphere reserve the 3.5-mile stretch of gorgeous golden sand is perfect for lounging around with the family or a game of fetch with the dog! This dog-friendly Devon beach also offers some of the best surfing potential in the country, with a high tidal range of 8.5m, it attracts surfers throughout the year.
There are no restrictions for dogs on this beach in the summer so you can relax and enjoy your time on this beach with the family and your furry friend – they may also be great for scaring the seagulls away from your picnic!
Key Information about Saunton Sands
Dogs allowed: All year round
Type of beach: Sandy
Postcode: EX33 1LG
Parking: Saunton Beach Car Park
Parking charge: Up to four hours – £8.50
Tide Times: Saunton Sands Tide Times
Facilities: Cafe, beach shop and toilets
Nearby Property Recommendations
With a bustling seaside town including an array of shops, Woolacombe Beach is extremely popular with surfers, families and dogs. Woolacombe Beach is commonly regarded as one of the best dog-friendly beaches in the UK and therefore would be the perfect destination to spend the afternoon with your four-legged friend.
This dog-friendly Devon beach stretches to around three miles and its golden sand is looked after by lifeguards in the summer. Due to its water quality and facilities, it sees beachgoers and surfers all year round wanting to test out the waves.
The village of Woolacombe itself is at the northern end of the beach, offering a variety of seaside shops, cafés and restaurants. This beach also has a piece of history, with the US Army using the beach to train landing amphibious vehicles on the beach ready for Normandy.
There are some restrictions for your furry friend in the summer months around the North End of the beach but they are welcome at other parts of Woolacombe Beach all year round.
Key Information about Woolacombe Beach
Dogs allowed: Welcome year round but there are restrictions on certain sections in the summer months
Type of beach: Sandy
Postcode: EX34 7DN
Parking: The Esplanade Car Park/ Sandy Burrows Car Park
Parking charge: Prices can range from £5-£10 depending on time of the year
Tide Times: Woolacombe Beach Tide Times
Nearby Property Recommendations
Known by the locals as Mortehoe Beach, near Ilfracombe, Rockham Bay is a sheltered beach surrounded by clifftops. Although the beach is around a 2km walk from the car park, the seclusion makes this dog-friendly beach in Devon an idyllic place for your pooch to run free.
Please check tide times before arrival as the beach will be hidden at high tide. When the tide is out you will find a combination of sand and rocky areas, perfect for rock pooling. Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round and the walk to the beach allows you to try and tire them out before you get there, otherwise they will probably knock over your freshly built sandcastle in excitement!
From the sand and pebble beach to the rockpools, there’s plenty for your pooch to sniff and explore at Rockham Bay Beach.
Key Information about Rockham Bay Beach
Dogs allowed: All year round
Type of beach: Combination of sand and rocks
Postcode: EX34 7DT
Parking: Small car park in Mortehoe
Parking charge: 15 March to 31 October – 4 hours – £6.00 | All day – £15 | 1 November to 14 March – All day – £2.50
Tide Times: Rockham Bay Beach Tide Times
Nearby Property Recommendations
Accessed via the ‘Smugglers Tunnel’, this secluded UK beach is one of the more unique dog-friendly Devon beaches on guide and is therefore a must-visit for you and your pooch!
Ness Cove Beach is believed to have been used by smugglers and history suggests that they built the tunnel, however, other people believe that the owners of the nearby ‘Ness House’ built the tunnel in the early 19th century for access to the beach. Either way, combined with the breathtaking beach, it does create an experience you won’t forget.
Please beware, the steps down to the beach can be quite slippery when wet. Also, check tide times before arrival because the majority of the beach is submerged at high tide. This dog-friendly Devon beach is made up of a combination of sand and small stones and although it doesn’t offer golden sands, it’s the perfect beach for exploring rock pools.
It also means that it is a quieter beach than others in the area, dogs are also allowed on the beach all year round. Making this the ultimate dog-friendly beach where your pup can roam to their heart’s content.
Key Information about Ness Cove Beach
Dogs allowed: All year round
Type of beach: Sand and Stone
Postcode: TQ14 0DP
Parking: The Ness Car Park
Parking charge: All day – £4.60
Tide Times: Ness Cove Tide Times
Nearby Property Recommendations
View this post on Instagram
The next South Devon dog-friendly beach lies in a designated AONB, so, unsurprisingly, it had to feature in our guide!
Thurlestone Sands Beach is effectively two main beaches as it joins with the busier South Milton Sands. Access to this beach is via a small single-track road, meaning it is a bit of a hidden gem in Devon; quieter than some of the other beaches on this list.
Dogs are allowed on the beach at any time of year, so be sure to bring their favourite tennis ball along and see them go wild! This idyllic beach also lies on the South West Coast Path, providing endless walking trails for you and your pooch; trust us the views are fantastic!
There are lifeguards on duty here between July and September but please take care if you head out to sea, there are dangerous rip tides and currents along this stretch, and there are signs along this beach to make you aware of this.
Key Information about Thurlestone Sands
Dogs allowed: All year round
Type of beach: Sandy
Postcode: TQ7 3JS
Parking: One car park available near Thurlestone Sands
Parking charge: Up to 3 hours – £3 | All day – £5
Tide Times: Thurlestone Sands Tide Times
Nearby Property Recommendations
View this post on Instagram
Located on the east bank of Salcombe Harbour, this privately owned dog-friendly Devon beach offers a tranquil escape for both you and your dog. Surrounded by the South Devon AONB, this is a perfect beach for you to unwind and listen to the sounds of the waves rolling in while your dog roams freely.
This is a perfect spot to bring your camera too, with the beach stretching north to East Portlemouth Beach, this area offers fantastic views across the water to the Salcombe Estuary and the town of Salcombe itself. During low tide, the beach offers plenty of opportunities to explore rock pools. This element combined with the long golden sand makes this a popular beach for all the family.
Getting to this wonderful dog-friendly Devon beach can be a little tricky by car and there is often limited parking. You can however take a small ferry across the estuary. Adult fees are £2.30 each way with Children (2-14yrs) £1.70. The ferry is around a 10-minute walk from the beach, so if you are travelling light, this might be the best option.
As one of the best beaches in Devon, you will not want to miss heading to Mill Bay!
Key Information about Mill Bay
Dogs allowed: Dog-friendly throughout the year but they must be on leads during the peak months (May – September)
Type of beach: Sandy beach with rocky areas
Postcode: TQ8 8PU
Parking: Mill Bay Car Park
Parking charge: Free to National Trust members, otherwise – 1 April to 30 Sept – £6 | 1 Oct to 31 March – £3.
Tide Times: Mill Bay Tide Times
Nearby Property Recommendations
With a glamorous town and a beautiful golden beach, Salcombe offers plenty for those in search of a relaxing day out with their dog including Salcombe North Sands Beach. While the beach is completely submerged during high tides, the bay results in calmer waters at low tides, perfect for sunbathing, a picnic or even a dip in the sea.
For this reason, North Sands is not only one of the best dog-friendly beaches in Devon but one of the best beaches in South Devon. This beach can get very busy in the summer so getting to the beach early for both parking and beach space may be the best choice.
After you visit the beach, why not head to The Winking Prawn seafood restaurant to refuel after your adventure by the sea? The restaurant is dog-friendly and offers a wide variety of dishes so enjoy a lovely meal to wrap up what has been a fantastic day for the whole family.
Key Information about Salcombe North Sands Beach
Dogs allowed: Dogs welcome all year
Type of beach: Sandy
Postcode: TQ8 8LD
Parking: North Sands Car Park
Parking charge: All day – £6.50
Tide Times: Salcombe North Sands Tide Times
Nearby Property Recommendations
Rounding off our guide to the best dog-friendly beaches in Devon is Beesands Beach. Nestled between green fields and a freshwater lake, this beach is a perfect stretch of sand for you and your dog to explore.
This single dog-friendly beach stretches a mile and has won two important awards recently; the Blue Flag Beach Award and The Marine Conservation Society recommendation. This recognition firmly cements its place on our guide.
With a wide range of watersports and outdoor activities including surfing, bodyboarding, canoeing, sailing and windsurfing as well as heaps of space for your pooch to run around as well as dog access all year-round, this dog-friendly beach in Devon should be a hit for both you and your dog!
If you fancy a walk after some time in the sun, then enjoy a turn around Widdecombe Ley, a large freshwater lake directly behind the beach. You can also explore the small village of Beesands where you will find Britannia on the Beach, a delightful place to grab local seafood; there’s no better way to end a day at the beach!
Key Information about Beesands Beach
Dogs allowed: Dogs welcome all year round
Type of beach: Shingle
Postcode: TQ7 2EH
Parking: Small car park close to the beach, you may also find roadside parking close to Britannia on the Beach and The Cricket Inn
Parking charge: Free
Tide Times: Beesands Beach Tide Times
Nearby Property Recommendations
Take a look at this map for our selection of the best dog-friendly beaches in Devon!
If this guide to dog-friendly beaches in Devon has got you planning your next trip, check out these dog-friendly cottages in Devon. You can also guarantee a spot by the sea thanks to these coastal cottages in Devon.
Image Credits: Alison Day – CC BY-ND 2.0; Roger A Smith – CC BY-SA 2.0; Bill Boaden – CC BY-SA 2.0
by Jack Price / Pet Friendly
I joined the Sykes team in November 2021, helping to produce content for existing and potential owners. I love a good film, tr...
Read More About Author
Sign up to receive exclusive offers, competitions and the latest news to your inbox, and you'll be entered into our monthly prize-draw 3 times!
If you’re looking for the best dog-friendly walks in Dorset, you’ve come to the right place! Dorset boasts a...
The Peak District is home to a whole host of walking opportunities for you to explore, but if you...
Dog-friendly beaches on the Isle of Wight are some of the best around for your pups! With over 70...
Are you on the phone to our call centre? Your Customer ID is:
Get involved in the Discussion