Britain's top dog friendly beaches
Take a look at the Pets Go Too guide to the top ten dog friendly beaches in the UK.
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Top Ten Dog Friendly Beaches
1. Poole, Branksome Chine, Dorset
Poole, Branksome Chine
Dorset
GETTING THERE: Just four miles from Poole. The beach is accessible from the town centre by a number, well-signposted routes. A bus service runs from both Poole and Bournemouth throughout the summer season.
Facilities include: dog exercise area, windsurfing, surfing, canoeing, sailing, jet skiing, paddleboats, cafe/ restaurant, beach huts, deckchair hire, pedallo hire, lost children centre, promenade, entertainers, crazy golf, pay and on-street parking, harbour, campsite, wildlife reserve.
Littlehampton
West Sussex
GETTING THERE - By road, take the A24 from London, then the A259, or A259 if your driving from east or west, or use the A241/ A27. There are national rail services to Littlehampton. The beach is a ten minute stroll through the town and then a riverside path. It is a good sized shingle beach that gives way to sand at low tide.
Facilities include: dog exercise area, cafe/ restaurant, beach huts, deckchair hire, promenade, pier, entertainers, bowling, crazy golf, pay and on-street parking, harbour, amusement arcade, leisure centre, camping, wildlife reserve, lost children centre.
Torbay, Oddicombe
Devon
GETTING THERE - You can use the steep footpath to the beach or the cliff lift which is available at reasonable cost. The closest town is Torquay. There are good local bus services and a main road for easy access.
Oddicombe has a small stretch of sand and shingle beach, it is located at the foot of the high cliffs of South Devon.
Facilities include: dog exercise area, sailing, cafe/ restaurant, beach huts, slipway, deck chair rental, pedallo rental, promenade, pay parking, lost children centre.
Amroth
Pembrokeshire
GETTING THERE - From the A40 take the A478 to Begelly Alternatively, use the A477 from Killgetty. Follow the signposts from here. There is also a good bus service.
There is a sizeable sandy beach with shingle and rocky areas. The beach is overlooked by a quaint, unspoilt village with promenade. The western end marks the starting point of the one-hundred and eighty mile Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
Facilities include: dog exercise area, windsurfing, paddleboats, cafe/ restaurant, slipway, free on-street parking, campsite.
Shanklin
Isle of Wight
GETTING THERE - Shanklin Town and Old Village is the closest town to the beach. You can get there by local public transport services or, for more fun, catch the Dotto Train for a leisure ride to the beach.
There are lengthy stretches of sand. The beach is connected to the cliff top by a lift.
Facilities include: crazy dog exercise area, windsurfing, surfing, canoeing, sailing, jet skiing, paddleboats, cafe/ restaurant, beach huts, slipway, deckchair rental, pedallo rental, promenade, golf, pay and parking (across road) and on-street parking, amusement arcade, camping, lost children centre.
St Andrews, West Sands
Fife
GETTING THERE - Take the A91 by road. The bus station is a fifteen minute walk away. There are no train services.
The beach is around fifteen minutes from the centre of the town and is adjacent to the world famous golf course. There is two miles of sandy beach which is backed by atmospheric sand dunes.
Facilities include: dog exercise area, cafe, windsurfing, pay car park (across road), crazy golf, harbour, camping.
Bridlington North
East Yorkshire
GETTING THERE - If you are travelling by road take the A164. A163, A166 through Wolds to Bridlington. By road from the north, use the A1, A19, A166 coastal route. From the west, take the A514, A166 to Bridlington. National rail services by the East Coast line.
There is a sandy beach with areas of shingle. It is overlooked by the spectacular soaring chalky cliffs of Flamborough Head. You will find a number of bird nesting sites here.
Facilities include: dog exercise area, restaurant/ cafe, beach huts, windsurfing canoeing, sailing, jet skiing, slipway, deckchair rental, promenade, crazy golf, entertainers, lost child centre, leisure centre, harbour, free and on-street parking, amusement arcade.
Cleethorpes Central
Lincolnshire
GETTING THERE - Take the A180 from the motorway network. From Lincoln take the A46, from Boston the A16 and then follow the signs for Cleethorpes. There are national rail services from London, Manchester, Sheffield and Doncaster.
There is a traditional promenade running along this sandy, gently sloping beach. There are also Victorian gardens to enjoy.
Facilities include: dog exercise area, restaurant/ cafe, beach huts, windsurfing, canoeing, sailing, jet skiing, slipway, deckchair rental, lost child centre, leisure centre, harbour, street and free parking (across road), amusement arcade.
Scarborough North Bay
North Yorkshire
GETTING THERE - Local bus services regularly operate from Scarborough town centre which is around one mile away.
This is a quiet sandy beach, its skyline is dominated by a historic castle.
Facilities include: dog exercise area, surfing, jet skiing, cafe/ restaurant, beach huts, deckchair rental, slipway, lost children centre, promenade, crazy golf, pay parking, on-street parking, sealife centre, miniature railway, theatre.
Portstewart Strand
Londonderry
GETTING THERE - The beach is located on the south-eastern rim of Portstewart and is approximately four miles north-west of Coleraine. By road you can use the A2 or B185. There are bus services from Belfast to Portstewart. The Strand is on the cycle route (NLN) 93.
There are two miles of glorious white sandy beach. There is a dune system and it is home a wide variety of wildlife.
Facilities include: dog exercise area, windsurfing, jet skis, pay parking.
