What could be nicer than a bracing walk along a sandy beach, with the waves breaking in the distance and gulls circling overhead? It’s even better if you’re joined by your four-legged companion! Most dogs love a trip to the beach and will spend hours splashing in the shallows and romping up and down the sand in a game of ‘fetch the ball’. There are literally hundreds of beaches along the Devon coastline, from wide-open sandy stretches that go on for miles to tiny rocky coves, where you’ll probably be the only visitor. In terms of beaches, Devon is one of the most dog-friendly counties in the whole of the UK. While most beaches are open to dogs, some do have restrictions, and only the beaches at Bigbury and Ladram Bay have complete bans.
If you’re planning to visit a beach with your dog, please keep to any restrictions on areas that you can use or times of day when you can visit. Be mindful of other beach users – in particular, horse riders are a common sight on Devon beaches and some horses can be spooked by dogs approaching them closely or at high speed. And, as ever, please pick up after your dog. Most of all though, enjoy your visit!
The best-known beaches, and their rules regarding doggy visitors, are listed below.
The following beaches allow dogs all year round:
Hele Bay, Ilfracombe
Instow, North Devon
Rockham Beach, North Devon
Wild Pear Beach, North Devon
Soar Mill Cove, nr Salcombe, South Devon
Beesands Beach, South Devon
Ness Cove Beach, Teignmouth, East Devon
Salcombe, South Devon (except South Sands where dogs are banned during summer)
Strete Gate Beach, South Devon
East Portlemouth Beach, South Devon
Saunton, North Devon (certain areas only)
These beaches allow dogs, but only in certain areas or at restricted times:
Exmouth Beach – dogs not allowed on main beach during summer
Dawlish Warren, East Devon – dogs allowed all year round between groyne 3 and 9, other areas are banned during summer/all year round
Bantham Beach, South Devon – not allowed on main beach during summer, welcome on estuary side all year round
Wembury, South Devon – dogs not allowed on main beach during summer, allowed west of the main beach all year round
Westward Ho! – restrictions in south end of the beach during summer, dogs allowed in north end all year
Putsborough, North Devon – dogs only allowed north of the shop during summer months
Woolacombe, North Devon – dogs welcome south of Mill Rock all year round, other areas on leads only or banned during summer A more comprehensive list can be found at: https://www.thebeachguide.co.uk/south-west-england/devon/dogs-allowed
