Dog Friendly Beaches East Devon – Few things wag the tail like the sounds, smells and swimming that your dog can look forward to on a trip to the beach. However, finding a dog-friendly beach can be difficult, especially when you are far from your local area and also have to look for dog-friendly accommodation, transport and food.
Luckily, Devon has plenty of dog-friendly beaches on both its north and south coasts, so walks and dog paddles are never too far away. To make it easier to find the ones you want to visit, we’ve only included our favorite Devon beaches that welcome dogs all year round (definitely the best of the bunch in the eyes of your four-legged friend).
Dog Friendly Beaches East Devon
North Devon’s Best Dog Friendly Beaches (East to West) Lynmouth Exmoor National Park Walks and Cliff Path
The Best Beaches In Devon With Kids
We start in the north east corner of Devon close to the border with Somerset in the wonderful setting of Exmoor National Park. This area is great for dogs, as exercise in the park’s hilly, wooded and coastal environment is sure to perk up the ears and get the blood pumping.
When it comes to finding somewhere on the Exmoor coast to let them off the leash by the sea, you can’t do much better than the village of Lynmouth. There are several dog-friendly pubs, restaurants and cafes in the center of the village, and the cliff railway that connects it to the hilltop village of Lynton is also dog-friendly.
The main stretch of shingle beach here – known somewhat confusingly as Blacksands beach – stretches about 500m east of the harbor walls and is backed by cliffs, woodland and coastal paths (there are also rock pools for sniffer dogs at low tide). Keep in mind that there can be some pretty big waves at certain times of the year, so you may want to look elsewhere if your dog isn’t that strong of a swimmer.
Next up is Ilfracombe, a town we’ve got all the ingredients for a great dog holiday. There is plenty of parking and a wide variety of dog-friendly restaurants and attractions. With golf courses, Victorian architecture and a well-maintained boardwalk, this place has a relaxed and elegant atmosphere.
Dog-friendly Beaches In North Devon
However, from your dog’s point of view, Ilfracombe’s biggest advantage is probably the number of different beaches you can explore with your pet throughout the year. Wildersmouth Beach, an old smuggler’s cove close to the centre, is a peaceful shingle spot with stunning sea views, while around the corner are the likes of the secluded Raparee Cove and the small stretch of sand at Cheyne Beach.
Your dog won’t be able to get enough of this pet friendly beach in North Devon. Saunton Sands is a rural location with tails wagging all year round, surrounded by countryside across the Taw Estuary from the villages of Appledore and Westward Ho!.
Saunton Sands’ clever zoning system means dogs can run free on almost the whole of this vast stretch of sand, which stretches along the coast for around three and a half miles.
There are relatively few facilities here, but there is a beach shop where you can pick up sweet snacks or a bucket and spade (not that you need one with a kicking puppy…). Seasonal beach cabanas and sunbeds are also available for rent.
8 Best Dog-friendly Beaches In Devon
Although quite remote and small, the pretty seaside village of Clovelly is well worth a visit if you’re spending time in North Devon. There is a charge to enter the village itself, although this can generally be avoided if you don’t use Clovelly’s main car park and enter via the South West Coast Path, a public road. The latter route is a particularly good choice as this part of the coastal path is considered one of the most scenic in all of Devon.
At the bottom of the village’s steep main street is a small stone beach surrounded by old harbor walls. Snorkeling is a particularly popular pastime here in the summer months, as the sheltered coastal waters around the beach are a veritable haven for marine life.
Set in a dog friendly location near Clovelly for easy access to the best beaches in Devon and Cornwall.
South Devon’s Best Dog Friendly Beaches (East to West) Dawlish Warren Family friendly beach within easy reach of Exeter
11 Dog-friendly Beaches In South Devon
Dawlish Warren is a family-friendly beach which is particularly popular with locals and visitors based in and around Exeter. This sprawling mile and a half of sand is less than a half-hour drive from downtown, but this pet-friendly spot has plenty of appeal.
Surrounded by sand dunes and a nature reserve which is an important wading bird sanctuary, Dawlish Warren is a classic South Devon sandy beach with plenty of opportunities for water sports, picnicking, seaside walks or just relaxing on the sand. Dogs are welcome here all year round on the part of the beach between breaks 4 and 9.
For more practical things, Dawlish Warren gets extra points for having a train station just a short walk from the beach and for being so close to Powderham Castle, a dog-famous manor house five miles up the River Exe.
Beesands is situated in the spectacular South Hams and a short distance from the popular towns of Kingsbridge and Salcombe. Beesands is a small coastal village with miles of dog-friendly shingle backed by a tranquil freshwater lake.
The Best Dog-friendly Beaches In The Uk
Fishing boats can often be seen pulling up to the shore and common seafood including freshly caught crabs and lobsters are regularly sold a short distance away in the village.
There’s plenty of parking at Beesands as the village has both free car parks and dedicated car parks (perfect for pups who want to sprint into the sand as soon as the boot opens). There are also a number of walks available as Beesands is located just over a mile south of Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve.
Soar Mill Cove A secluded cove surrounded by untamed scenery with direct access to the South West Coastal Path
Next we have an option that will probably appeal to serious tourists. Proving that South Devon can be dramatic too, Soar Mill Cove is a spectacular sandy beach backed by the steep black massifs of Bolt Head. The surrounding countryside is very rural and sparsely populated, although there is a hotel and car park a short distance from the beach.
4 Dog-friendly Walks In East Devon
You have to walk at least part of the South West Coast Path to get down to this sandy cove. Soar Mill Cove may not be the most dog-friendly of our favorite dog beaches, but it’s well worth the trip – it’s sure to be a place for memories with your pooch.
If you’re looking for pure simplicity, you’ll want to check out our ultimate selection. While some beaches have theme parks, showers and cafes on the doorstep, Thurlestone Beach goes back to basics. Accessible only by foot or single track, this pristine stretch of raw sand is sheltered, has several safe swimming areas (with lifeguard service during the high summer months) and is generally not as crowded as the other dog runs. friendly beaches in this part of the world.
Dogs are welcome here all year round and can especially enjoy exploring the seaweed-covered rock outcroppings exposed at low tide.
Looking for the best accommodation in Devon? Check out our travel guide or click here to explore South West England. A warmer climate and two stunning coastlines make Devon a great destination to stay. If you’re looking for a suitable place to bring your four-legged friend, you’re in luck too. As well as hundreds of holiday cottages, cafes and restaurants that welcome pets with open arms, you’ll be spoiled for choice with dog-friendly beaches in Devon. Here’s our pick of the best in the region.
Full List Of Beaches Where You Could Be Slapped With £100 Fine For Walking Your Dog Revealed
The coast of North Devon is lined with wide sand dunes and small picturesque bays. The vast majority allow dogs to visit, including:
Three miles of golden sand await visitors to Saunton Sands in Saunton! It is one of the best beaches in Devon for dogs with plenty of space to stretch out and play. Dogs are allowed on the sand all year round, although there is a small section next to the main slide where they are not allowed.
Tucked away between Saunton Sands and Putsborough Beach, Croyde is a delightful bay which is dog-friendly most of the year. The wide sand makes it perfect for dogs who like to run, while the big waves ensure it’s popular with surfers. Additionally, National Trust Baggy Point lies just to the south and is accessed via a brilliant rock track, ideal for adventurous dog owners and their dogs.
This sand and stone beach is a great place to walk and swim in the sea. It is close to Ilfracombe and great for playing
