Best Dog Friendly Beaches East Devon – There are few things that get the tail wagging like the sounds, smells and swims your dog experiences when you’re waiting for a trip to the beach. However, finding a dog-friendly beach can be difficult, especially when you are far from your local area and have to look for dog-friendly accommodation, transport and places to eat.
Luckily, Devon has plenty of dog-friendly beaches on both the north and south coasts, so dog walkers and paddling sessions are never too far away. To help you find the ones you want to visit, we’ve added only our favorite dog-friendly Devon beaches throughout the year (definitely your pal’s favourites four legs).
Best Dog Friendly Beaches East Devon
The Best Dog Beaches in North Devon (East to West) Exmoor Walks Lynmouth National Park and Cracked Iron
Sidmouth Is One Of East Devon’s Dog-friendly Gems
We start in the north east corner of Devon close to the Somerset border in the stunning surroundings of Exmoor National Park. This area is great for dogs, as exercise in the park’s mix of hills, forests and coastal areas will get their ears up and blood pumping.
When it comes to finding somewhere on the Exmoor coast to let them run off the coast, 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 rocky railway that connects it to the hilltop village of Lynton is also suitable for puppies.
The main stretch of shingle beach here – confusingly called Black Sand beach – runs about 500m east of the bay walls, with cliff backs, woodland and coastal walks (at low tide there are also rock pools where you can dogs run into them). Keep in mind that there can be some pretty big waves here some times of the year, so you might want to look elsewhere if your dog isn’t such a strong swimmer.
First up is Ilfracombe, a town that we think has all the ingredients for a great dog-friendly holiday. There is plenty of parking here and a wide selection of restaurants and attractions for dogs. With its golf courses, Victorian architecture and well-kept promenade, the place has a relaxed and delicate atmosphere.
Dog-friendly Beaches In 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 near the town centre, is a quiet spot of pebbles with wide sea views, and around the corner is the secluded Rapparee Cove and the small stretch of sand on Cheyne Beach.
Your dog can’t get enough of this pet-friendly beach in North Devon. Saunton Sands is a rural location, welcoming for a pint all year round, surrounded by countryside across the Thames estuary from the villages of Appledore and Westward Ho!.
Saunton Sands’ clever zoning system means dogs are welcome to run free on almost the entire stretch of sand, which stretches along the coast for around three and a half miles.
There are few amenities here, but there is a shop on the beach where you can pick up sweet snacks or a bucket and spade (not necessarily one with a fragile puppy around…). A beach cottage and deck chairs are also available for rent for the season.
5 Dog Friendly Beaches In South Devon
Although quite remote and small in size, the charming coastal 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 usually be avoided if you do not use the main Clovelly car park and enter via the South West Coast Path, which is a public right of way. The second route is a very good choice as this part of the Coastal Path is widely regarded as the most beautiful in Devon.
At the bottom of the village’s steep main road is a small pebble beach surrounded by the walls of the old port. Snorkeling is a very popular pastime here in the summer months, as the sheltered coastal waters around the bay are a veritable haven for marine life.
Base yourself in a dog friendly area near Clovelly with easy access to the best beaches in Devon and Cornwall.
South Devon’s Best Dog Friendly Beaches (East to West) Dawlish Warren A family friendly beach within Exeter
Dog Friendly Beaches
Dawlish Warren is a family friendly beach popular with locals and visitors living in and around Exeter. This expansive mile and a half of sand is less than half an hour’s drive from downtown, but this pet-friendly spot has plenty of appeal in its own right.
Surrounded by sand dunes and a nature reserve, Dawlish Warren is an important bird sanctuary. It’s a classic South Devon sandy beach with plenty of space for water sports, picnics, seaside walks or just relaxing on the sand. Dogs are welcome here all year round on the stretch of beach between lanes 4 and 9.
On other practical matters, 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-friendly manor house five miles up the River Exe.
Beesands is situated in stunning South Hams and is a short drive from the towns of Kingsbridge and Salcombe. It’s a small coastal village with a mile-long dog-friendly shingle backed by a tranquil freshwater lake.
The Best Dog Friendly Beaches In The Uk 2020
Fishing boats can often be seen pulling up to the shore, and regular seafood such as fresh crabs and lobsters are regularly caught a short walk from the village green.
There is plenty of parking at Beesands, with free car parks and a designated village car park (perfect for pups wanting to sprint for the sand as soon as the gate opens). There are also some walks available here as Beithna Féir is just over a mile south of Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve.
Soar Mill Cove A secluded cove with unspoilt scenery as a backdrop with direct access to the South West Coast Path.
Next we have a selection that will appeal to serious walkers. Proving that South Devon can be dramatic too, Soar Mill Cove is a stunning sandy beach backed by the towering black mass of Bolt Head. The surrounding countryside is very rustic and sparsely populated, although the hotel and parking area are a short distance from the beach.
Top Best East Devon Dog Pet Friendly Beaches
To reach this sandy beach, you have to negotiate at least part of the South West Coastal Path. Although Soar Mill Cove isn’t the most convenient of our dog-friendly beaches, it’s well worth the trip here – there’s sure to be an opportunity to make memories with your nuptials along the way.
If you’re looking for complete simplicity, you should check out our latest selection. Some beaches have amusement parks, showers and cafes, but Thurlestone Beach is back to basics. Accessible only by foot or single track road, this stretch of rough sand is sheltered, has many safe swimming spots (with a lifeguard service during the peak summer months) and is generally not as crowded as other dog-friendly beaches in this part of the world.
Dogs are welcome here all year round and enjoy exploring the seaweed covered rocks exposed at low tide.
Looking for the best places to stay in Devon? Check out our travel guide or click here to explore more of south west England. East Devon is a great area with lots of dog friendly attractions. But it’s not just on the beaches. East Devon offers great rivers and countryside to take your dog for a walk. You can visit beautiful country gardens away from the crowded beaches.
5 Of The Best Dog-friendly Attractions In East Devon The Fido Trail
Perhaps you’d prefer to take a trip on an old-fashioned tram or spend the day with the donkeys. On a rainy day, you can go to the museum. All in all, East Devon is a great destination for a dog-friendly family holiday.
I love visiting many of the dog attractions near me. They make a great day for me and my dogs. Give me a list of attractions below to help you plan your vacation.
The Seaton Tramway runs along the River Ax Valley. You will see many wild animals in the nature reserve. The narrow tram runs 3.5 miles and takes half an hour. You can start from Seaton, stop for lunch in Colyford and explore the small village of Colyton.
The Tramway at Seaton is a great place for dogs in East Devon. You will also be warmly welcomed. Your dog can even get from the station master. Dogs are allowed on the lower floor accompanied by a person. There are water bowls at each station. You can book a tram trip for the whole family online.
Beaches Near Dittiscombe, Dog And Family Friendly In South Devon
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