Best Dog Friendly Beaches Dorset – More than 35% of our guests take their dogs with them on holiday and they can blame no one! The Dorset coast is a great place to enjoy the scenery and walks, so why not bring the whole family together and visit Dorset’s dog-friendly beaches?
All of our parks are dog friendly and have great dog amenities including dog pads for off-lead walks, water bottles, food, treats and toys for sale, even dog showers and dog menus (facilities vary by park ). Many places to eat and drink in the area welcome dogs and at Highlands End Holiday Park, Martin’s Bar & Restaurant welcomes dogs in many areas of the site.
Best Dog Friendly Beaches Dorset
One of the most frequently asked questions of our booking team is which beaches are dog friendly in Dorset – so we’ve created an interactive map for you to explore. You can also scroll down this page for more details on each beach, starting from West to East.
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Known as the ‘Pearl of Dorset’, Lyme Regis offers many beaches to choose from, as well as the harbor wall, Langmoor Gardens and the high street with its many dog-friendly shops and dog-friendly eateries . It is a great place to take your dog for a walk and enjoy the wonderful scenery.
Monmouth Beach to the west of Lyme Regis and Church Beach to the east welcome dogs all year round. Dogs are welcome between October and April at Front Beach. Lead restrictions are in place on Charter Road, Sea Parade and Seawall beach.
There is no limit to the East Coast (Golden Cap on the river side). The West Beach (Lyme Regis side of the river) only allows dogs between October and April, extending to the bridge at the end of the promenade. In addition, at Lyme Regis, dogs are allowed all year round.
A stone’s throw from Golden Cap Holiday Park and next door to The Anchor Inn, Ballyna Mare Beach offers expansive views of the Jurassic Coast with access to the South West Coast Path for you and your four-legged friends to explore the surrounding area. It is located between the 2 highest points on the south coast of England – Golden Cap and Thorncombe Beacon.
Best Dog Friendly Beaches In Dorset
The Eype is a beautiful unspoiled beach which is a 500m walk from Highlands End Holiday Park. This secluded spot is the perfect place to relax, unwind and enjoy the scenery. As a small beach, it is relatively quiet and there is a scenic walk to the top of Thorncombe Beacon, with views across the coast to Portland Bill.
West Bay is a wonderful fishing village, centered on the harbour. The setting for ITV crime drama Broadchurch, West Bay has become an increasingly popular destination in recent years and there is so much to see and do that it’s easy to spend a whole day exploring. There is a good selection of food and drink and a boat or fishing trip is a great way to see the coast from a different perspective.
Dogs are welcome on East Beach and West Beach between October and April. From the area where the cliff starts, dogs are always welcome, but be careful not to stray from the base of the cliff. On beaches where dogs are allowed, dogs can die but should be reasonably controlled.
Burton Bradstock is located at Graston Copse & Larkfield Holiday Parks. A small village on the Jurassic Coast Road between Bridport and Abbotsbury, ‘Burton’ is famous for its thatched cottages, quality village pubs and beautiful ‘Hive Beach’. The beach has a pebbly and sandy shore and is home to the award-winning Hive Beach Cafe. At the top of the cliff, there is a Seaside Boarding House with a terrace, cocktail bar and restaurant facing the beach.
Dog Friendly Beaches In Dorset
There are no official restrictions at Burton Bradstock, but the National Trust asks that dogs not be exercised in the main area of Hive Beach between May and September. If you walk east or west from the main beach area, in front of the rocks, dogs are welcome here all year round. Please be careful walking off the bottom of the cliff.
Cogden Beach is a quiet part of Chesil Beach, popular with anglers and dog walkers. Owned by the National Trust, there is a car park a few hundred meters up the hill on Jurassic Coast Road. The shingle beach is bordered by farmland and reedbeds, creating a habitat for bird species and wildflowers.
West Bexington is another quieter part of Chesil Beach, off the beaten track. In a small seaside village on the Jurassic Coast Road, there is a beach car park, Clubhouse Cafe and a nature reserve and Site of Scientific Interest behind the beach.
West Bexington welcomes dogs all year round in some areas – see signs on the beach for more information.
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Abbotsbury is a pretty village on the Jurassic Coast Road, with great attractions such as Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Abbotsbury Swannery and Abbotsbury Children’s Farm. It is famous for its thatched houses, tea rooms and art galleries. There is parking on the beach and you can explore Chesil Beach and walk up to St Catherine’s Church which is on the hill overlooking Marlach an Chahlaigh.
Abbotsbury Beach, where the Naval Lagoon begins, is dog friendly all year round. From Fleet Lagoon to Portland, dogs are allowed on the beach from September to April.
Weymouth is a traditional seaside resort, famous for its long stretch of golden sand. There are many shops, places to eat, entertainment and attractions around the town including the Sea Life Centre, Sand World, Nothe Fort and the harbor and water sports.
Dogs are welcome on the main beach from 1 November to Good Friday and throughout the year the dog play area is available in the Pavillion behind the beach. At Bowleaze Cove, dogs are welcome all year round.
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Church Ope is a small cove and secluded beach on the east side of the protected Isle of Portland. With cliffs on 3 sides, this beach is well protected from the wind and is popular for swimming, fishing and snorkelling, as well as diving from the many wrecks in the surrounding waters. There are 2 paths and stairs down to the beach and there is free parking 1/4 mile across from the Pennsylvania Castle.
Another hidden gem on the Jurassic Coast is Osmington Beach. Attractive village down to the beach and South West Coast Path, plus Smuggler’s Inn. The beach is long and quiet and is good for exploring rather than sunbathing due to its rocky nature. At low tide, the rock pool with a sea pole and a starfish can be seen.
Ringstead Bay is another quiet shingle beach overlooking Weymouth and the Isle of Portland. It is a favorite with families and visitors looking for a quieter and less crowded day at the beach. There are beach cafes and shops and one of the few places along the Jurassic Coast where the South West Coast Path runs along the beach itself. The beach is closer to all pebbles and pebbles and the waters are crystal clear so bring your snorkel gear. Ringstead is only 8 miles from Sandyholme Holiday Park.
Durdle Door is one of the most beautiful sites in all of England. The 10,000-year-old limestone arch attracts thousands of visitors every year and can be reached by a lovely hill walk from the car park. It is very busy during the summer months, so it is recommended to visit between September and May if possible. The water quality is very good and clean for swimming.
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Lulworth Cove is a famous shell-shaped cove on the Jurassic Coast, located near the village of West Lulworth in Purbeck, just 7 miles from Sandyholme Holiday Park. It is a popular destination, attracting up to half a million visitors each year. There is a large car park, some good shops, a pub and ice cream stand and a visitor education center and gift shop.
Worbarrow Bay is a pleasant and peaceful place. Part of the Lulworth Range, it is only accessible at weekends and school holidays and can be reached on foot from the car park in Tyneham village, which was evacuated during the Second World War and remains derelict today. The walk is flat and about a mile from the beach with beautiful views and welcome from the sea.
Kimmeridge is a beautiful rocky bay and one of the best places on the Jurassic coast for fossils, marine life, lakes and snorkelling. The bay is naturally protected and the water is clean. There is a fine view of the harbor from Clavell Tower to the east. The Etches collection is very close to value
