Many popular UK beaches impose seasonal dog bans during summer to maintain cleanliness and safety, especially for children. However, several beaches remain open to four-legged visitors all year round. Vet charity PDSA has ranked the top five UK beaches that are "dog friendly all year round." According to the BBC, the seasonal bans aim to keep beaches clean and safe during busy periods, as dog waste left behind can be a major health hazard. Here are the top five beaches, according to PDSA.
5. St Bees Beach
St Bees in Whitehaven, Cumbria, is a beautiful shingle-and-sand beach offering the perfect setting for long coastal walks when the tide is low. The PDSA recommends visiting the RSPB nature reserve, where you can find England’s only cliff-nesting seabird colony.
4. Bamburgh Beach
Bamburgh beach in Northumberland is a long sandy beach set against the backdrop of the iconic castle. It is perfect for walking your pooch or taking a swim. "With the castle so close, it makes the perfect backdrop to photos (if your dog is a willing model, of course!)," said the pet experts.
3. Holkham Beach
Holkham Beach in Norfolk is set beside the stunning Holkham National Nature Reserve and offers a breathtaking stretch of unspoiled golden sand and peaceful coastal scenery. However, as a protected National Nature Reserve, parts of the beach are subject to seasonal on-lead restrictions from April 1 to August 31 to help protect ground-nesting birds during their breeding season. A spokesperson at the Holkham website said: "We proposed a dogs-on-leads rule during the breeding season only, on vulnerable areas of the beach."
2. Durdle Door
Durdle Door beach is a pebble beach rather than a sandy beach. It sits beneath the famous limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast, with clear waters and steep cliffs surrounding the cove. The beach shelves steeply in places, so it is recommended that children and dogs be supervised at all times.
1. Par Sands
Gaining the number one spot is Par Sands in Cornwall. The pet expert commented: "Par Sands is a lovely sandy beach surrounded by sand dunes and even has a little lake/pond! It’s ideal for playing and walking with your dog and having a paddle in the sea. If you do go walking away from the beach, you might want to keep your dog on the lead in case of wildlife."
