Warkworth Beach in Northumberland has been named one of the UK's 10 best dog-friendly beaches in a new 2026 guide. The list, compiled by veterinary company Vets Now, highlights beaches that are welcoming to dogs and where owners can enjoy the coast with confidence.
The beach is described in the guide as having "majestic golden sands that rarely feel crowded even in high summer" and as a "spacious coastal spot for dogs and owners to walk, paddle and play". It also wins praise for "its pretty village and spectacular castle close by". Warkworth is one of six beaches selected in England, with two in Wales and one each in Scotland and northern Ireland.
How the beaches were assessed
Vets Now, which provides emergency veterinary care, assessed how welcoming beaches are to dogs, their access, seasonal restrictions, on-site facilities and nearby dog-friendly spots. It also considered the proximity of doggy care it can provide if a four-legged friend is in need while out enjoying a beach walk.
The company points out that hidden hazards can exist even on the safest beaches and says that vet clinics countrywide see a rise in beach-related emergencies every summer. Its nearest Vets Now clinic to Warkworth is in Gateshead, about a 50-minute drive away.
Other beaches on the list
Sadie Spencer, principal vet at Vets Now, said: "Warkworth was one of just 10 beaches across the UK selected for the guide. There’s nothing dogs love more than a good run on the sand but the coast catches a lot of owners out. We’ve put this guide together so people can find a beach where their dog is genuinely welcome and well looked after, and head off knowing emergency help is close by if they need it."
The other English locations in the top 10 are Ainsdale Beach in Merseyside, Southwold Denes in Suffolk, Sand Bay in Somerset, Hengistbury West in Dorset and West Wittering in West Sussex. The Welsh beaches are Conwy Morfa and Three Cliffs Bay, while West Sands at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, and Crawfordsburn in County Down, northern Ireland, also make the list.
