Many beaches are closed to dogs from 1 May – 30 September nationwide each year. But once 1 October hits when the restrictions are lifted and temperatures are cooler and more comfortable for a pooch, it’s the ideal time to hit the beach with the hound.
Just some of the perks of the beach for a pup include somewhere new and exciting to sniff, invigorating breezes, interesting textures under-paw, a fun experience with their favourite human – and for those braver doggos, the opportunity to lark in the sea.
Sustainable dog brand Tangle, who offer a range of dog products made from recycled fishing nets, has compiled a list of ten fantastic beaches around the UK to explore this Autumn with your pooch. Just be sure to pack your Tangle dog lead for safe adventures together!
Xavier Warburton, founder of Tangle, says “Some dogs (and humans) enjoy the wide-open expanses of sand where they can stretch their legs for hours, whereas others prefer pottering about in rockpools and craggy areas. So, we’ve got a beach for every type of personality – both human and hound – with locations from the far north of Scotland to the very southern tip of England!”
“Given my love for the coastline, I started a brand with the aim of keeping it clear of ghost fishing gear (lost, abandoned or discarded equipment) by transforming it into stylist, useful and durable dog products for fellow dog lovers like me. We’re on track to prevent 500 tennis courts worth of fishing nets from entering the ocean by the end of this year. Enjoy the shortlist of beaches I’d recommend below..”
North, Hornsea Beach, Yorkshire
This popular shingle and sand beach is a regular in Good Beach Guides. It one of the quietest spots mentioned in this guide, so ideal if you’re looking for a peaceful walk with the pup. Dogs will love the proximity of the water’s edge and the opportunity to chase balls up and down its expanse. It’s also the start or end point of the trans Pennine trail, making it a wonderful location for a longer walk, weekend or week away exploring the Pennines.
North East, Cleethorpes Beach Bay, NE Lincolnshire
With sand dunes and a marsh area, this beach offers varied walks to keep it interesting for dogs to explore. With plenty of free parking and a dog friendly café, it’s accessible for all. Locals say it’s especially busy on Christmas Day and Boxing Day when hundreds of people are out walking their dogs giving your dog the pawfect opportunity to socialise with their fellow dog-kind.
North West, Cleveleys, Lancashire
Located in the lesser known town than its lively neighbour, Blackpool, it has both a shingle and sand beach for a slice of doggy heaven. The tide doesn’t go out too far, so it’s brilliant for water-loving dogs, as they can swim or splash about until their heart’s content. The town itself has lovely, welcoming shops to potter around in and no seaside visit is complete without fish and chips, which the town offers in abundance.
North Wales, Llanddona Beach, Anglesey
One of Anglesey’s hidden gems, where you escape the tourists of nearby beach spots – head here for a long expanse of beautiful sand edged with shingle. It’s connected to the Anglesey coast path too for longer explorations. Nervous drivers should be aware that the approach road is steep and very narrow with not many passing places, but it’s well worth the (dog) hairy drive down.
South Wales, White Sands Beach, St David’s Peninsula, Pembrokeshire
In addition to being fabulous for dog walking, this Blue Flag beach is one of Pembrokeshire’s most popular surf spots, making it an ideal for combined coastal pursuits. The white sands face directly west, making it a lovely to spot to watch the sun setting. It’s also connected to the coastal path and the ruins of a 6th Century chapel are partially buried in the dunes.
East, Holkham beach, Norfolk
This beach is a mile wide when the tide is out, so there’s plenty of space for running and playing in the sand. For double the fun, pine woods are located next to the beach, making it ideal for squirrel spotting, rifling through Autumn leaves and enjoying different scents. It’s great for humas too, as it’s an area of outstanding natural beauty so bring binoculars along for the chance of spotting seals and sea birds.
South West, Widemouth Bay, Bude, Cornwall
A superb beach that’s two miles long, with access to the South West Coast Path for a longer hike. It feels wild and can get very breezy due to facing into the Atlantic, so check the weather before popping down. Offering a mix of sand and stones, there’s also plenty of rockpools and sand dunes – so lots of great smells and places to explore when your dog want a break from high energy moments.
Torre Abbey Sands, Devon
This stunning beach is part of the English Riviera, so it’s a truly beautiful place to visit. Wide, open sands for running, ball chasing and a grassy area at Torre Abbey Meadows just next door for a change of scene. For convenience, it has toilets that are open all year and beach front kiosks for drinks and snacks. It’s the main beach for Torquay too, so there’s plenty of activities to enjoy beyond beach fun!
Scotland Achmelvich Bay, near Lochinver, Highlands
This gorgeous white sandy beach is an ideal spot for a weekend away with your furry friend. It’s a Blue Flag beach with granite outcrops dividing the beach into sections for brilliant adventures. There’s Hermit’s Castle, an abandoned 1950s landmark, and plenty of beautiful scenery surrounding this bay providing beautiful views for humans. The sea is easily reached for doggies, who love fun in water.
Coldingham Bay South Scotland
One hour outside of Edinburgh is Scotland’s ‘snowiest beach’. Head here in the depths of winter and dogs can not only enjoy sand under their paws, but also snow. Although at only 11 days a year of snow, dog walkers will need to be lucky. It’s sheltered, sandy and beautiful with rock pools at either ends for extra places for tasty smells.
Tangle offers a range of dog products including a durable dog bowl and a lead in a variety of sizes made from recycled, or ghost, fishing nets. What makes ghost fishing nets so dreadful is exactly what makes Tangle Mission products great. They are strong, durable, lightweight and long-lasting, beautifully made in the UK.
