Dog Friendly Beaches in Dorset
Over 35% of all of our guests bring a dog with them on holiday and who can blame them! The Dorset coastline is a superb place to enjoy the scenery and walks, so why shouldn’t the whole family get involved and visit the dog friendly beaches in Dorset?
All of our parks are dog friendly and have great facilities for dogs, including dog exercising meadows for walks off the lead, water bowls, food, treats and toys for sale and even a doggy shower and doggy menu (facilities vary by park). Many of the attractions and places to eat and drink in the local area also welcome dogs and at Highlands End Holiday Park, Martin’s Bar & Restaurant welcomes dogs in many areas of the venue.
One of the most frequent question our bookings team get asked is which are the dog friendly beaches in Dorset – so we’ve made 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.
Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis, known as the ‘Pearl of Dorset’ offers a range of beaches to choose from, as well as a cobb harbour wall, the Langmoor Gardens and a high street with independent shops many of these allow dogs and dog friendly places to eat. It’s a great place to take a dog walk and enjoy the amazing scenery.
Dogs at Lyme Regis
Monmouth Beach to the west of Lyme Regis and Church Beach to the east welcome dogs all year. Dogs are welcome between October and April at Front Beach. On lead restrictions apply on the adjacent Cart Road, Marine Parade and Sea wall beaches.
Charmouth
Lyme Regis, known as the ‘Pearl of Dorset’ offers a range of beaches to choose from, as well as a cobb harbour wall, the Langmoor Gardens and a high street with independent shops many of these allow dogs and dog friendly places to eat. It’s a great place to take a dog walk and enjoy the amazing scenery.
Dogs at Charmouth
East Beach (Golden Cap side of the river) does not have restrictions. West Beach (Lyme Regis side of the river) only allows dogs between October and April, stretching as far as the bridge at the end of the promenade. Beyond this, towards Lyme Regis, dogs are allowed on leads all year round.
Seatown Beach
Just a stones throw from our Golden Cap Holiday Park and next to The Anchor Inn, Seatown Beach offers expansive views of the Jurassic Coast with access to the South West Coast Path for you and your 4 legged friend to explore the surrounding areas. It is situated between 2 of the highest points on the south coast of England – Golden Cap and Thorncombe Beacon.
Dogs at Seatown
Dogs are welcome on Seatown Beach between October and April.
Eype Beach
Eype is a beautiful, unspoilt and pebble beach just a 500 metre walk from Highlands End Holiday Park. This secluded spot is an ideal place to escape, relax and enjoy the views. As a lesser known beach, it is relatively quiet and there’s a picturesque walk to the clifftop of Thorncombe Beacon, with views all along the coast to Portland Bill.
Dogs at Eype
Eype Beach welcomes dogs all year round.
West Bay
West Bay is a charming fishing village, centred around a harbour. The setting for ITV’s crime drama Broadchurch, West Bay has become an increasingly popular destination over the last few years and there is plenty to see and do, making it easy to spend the whole day exploring. There is a great choice of places to eat and drink and a boat or fishing trip is an excellent way to see the coastline from a different angle.
Dogs at West Bay
Dogs are welcome on East Beach and West Beach between October and April. From the areas where the cliffs start, dogs are welcome at all times, but care should be taken to walk well away from the base of the cliffs. On the permitted beaches, dogs can be off the lead but must be kept under reasonable control.
Burton Bradstock
Burton Bradstock is the location of our Graston Copse & Larkfield Holiday Parks. A small village on the Jurassic Coast road between Bridport and Abbotsbury, “Burton” is known for its thatched cottages, quality village pubs and pretty ‘Hive Beach.’ The beach has a sloping shingle and sand bank and is home to the award-winning Hive Beach Cafe. On the clifftop, is the Seaside Boarding House with its terrace, cocktail bar and restaurant overlooking the beach.
Dogs at Burton Bradstock
There are no formal restrictions at Burton Bradstock, however the National Trust do request that dogs are not exercised on the main area of Hive Beach, between May and September. If you walk east or west from the main area of the beach, in front of the cliffs, dogs are welcome here all year round. Please take care to walk well away from the base of the cliffs.
Cogden
Cogden Beach is a quiet section of Chesil Beach, popular with anglers and dog walkers. Owned by the National Trust, there is a car park a few hundred metres up the hill on the Jurassic Coast Road. The shingle beach is flanked by farm land and reed beds, creating a haven for bird species and wildflowers.
Dogs at Cogden
Cogden Beach welcomes dogs all year round.
West Bexington
West Bexington is another quieter section of Chesil Beach, off the beaten track. In a small coastal village off the Jurassic Coast Road, there is a beach car park, the Clubhouse Cafe and a nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest behind the beach.
Dogs at West Bexington
West Bexington welcomes dogs all year round in specific areas – see the signage at the beach for more information.
Abbotsbury
Abbotsbury is a pretty village on the Jurassic Coast Road, with great attractions including Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens, Abbotsbury Swannery and Abbotsbury Children’s Farm. It is renowned for its thatched cottages, tearooms and art galleries. There is a beach car park and you can explore this stretch of Chesil Beach and take a walk to St Catherine’s Chapel, perched on the hill overlooking the Fleet Lagoon.
Dogs at Abbotsbury
Abbotsbury Beach to where the Fleet Lagoon begins, welcomes dogs all year round. From the Fleet Lagoon all the way to Portland, dogs are allowed on leads on the seaward side of the beach from September to April.
Weymouth
Weymouth is a traditional seaside resort, famed for its long stretch of golden sand. There are plenty of shops, places to eat, entertainment and attractions around the town, including the Sea Life Centre, Sand World, Nothe Fort and the harbour and watersports.
Dogs at Weymouth
Dogs are welcome on the main beach from 01 November to Good Friday and all year round within an allocated dog exercise area at the Pavillion end of the beach. At Bowleaze Cove, dogs are welcome all year round.
Church Ope Cove, Portland
Church Ope is a small secluded cove and beach on the sheltered eastern side of the Isle of Portland. With cliffs on 3 sides, the beach is well sheltered from winds and is popular for swimming, fishing and snorkelling, as well as diving to the numerous wrecks in the surrounding waters. There are 2 footpaths and steps down to the beach and there is free parking a quarter of a mile away opposite Pensylvania Castle.
Dogs at Church Ope Cove
Church Ope Cove welcomes dogs all year round.
Osmington
Osmington Beach is another hidden gem on the Jurassic Coast. An attractive village leads down to the beach and the South West Coast Path, as well as the Smuggler’s Inn. The beach is rugged and quiet and is great for exploring rather than sunbathing, due to it’s rocky nature. At low tide, rock pools are revealed with sea urchins and starfish.
Dogs at Osmington
Osmington Beach welcomes dogs all year round.
Ringstead
Ringstead Bay is another quiet pebble beach with views over to Weymouth and the Isle of Portland. It is a favourite with families and visitors who are looking for a quieter, less crowded day at the beach. There is a beach cafe and shop and is one of the few places along the Jurassic Coast where the South West Coast Path runs along the beach itself. The beach is nearer all shingle and pebbles and the water is crystal clear so take your snorkelling gear. Ringstead is just 5 miles from Sandyholme Holiday Park.
Dogs at Ringstead
Ringstead Bay welcomes dogs all year round.
Durdle Door
Durdle Door is one of the most iconic locations in the whole of the UK. The 10,000 year old limestone arch draws tens of thousands of visitors a year and can be reached by a scenic hilly walk from the car park. It gets very busy during the summer months, so we recommend visiting between September and May if possible. The water quality is excellent and clear for swimming.
Dogs at Durdle Door
Durdle Door and neighbouring Man O’War Bay both welcome dogs all year round
Lulworth Cove
Lulworth Cove is a famous shell-shaped cove on the Jurassic Coast, located next to the village of West Lulworth in Purbeck, just 7 miles from Sandyholme Holiday Park. It is a very popular destination, attracting up to half a million visitors every year. There is a large car park, a number of attractive shops, pubs and ice cream stalls and an educational visitor centre and gift shop.
Dogs at Lulworth
Lulworth Cove welcomes dogs all year round.
Worbarrow Bay
Worbarrow Bay is a fascinating and quiet place. Part of the Lulworth Ranges, it is accessible at weekends and during school holidays only and can be reached by walking from the car park at Tyneham village, which was evacuated during World War II and has remained deserted ever since. The walk is flat and about 1 mile to the beach with beautiful views and inviting seas.
Dogs at Worbarrow Bay
Worbarrow Bay welcomes dogs all year round
Kimmeridge Bay
Kimmeridge is a picturesque rocky bay and one of the best places on the Jurassic Coast for fossils, marine life, rock pooling and snorkelling. The bay is naturally sheltered and has crystal clear waters. There is a great view over the bay from Clavell Tower to the east. The nearby Etches Collection is well worth a visit to see the range of fossils that have been found here.
Dogs at Kimmeridge Bay
Kimmeridge Bay welcomes dogs all year round.
Chapman’s Pool
Chapman’s Pool is a beautiful and remote cove. The beach is secluded and rarely gets busy, even in the height of summer. The beach is stony, the waters calm and clear and there are fossils to be found. The car park can be found at the top of the hill. It’s a great place to spend the day and take a picnic. A walk out along the clifftop to St Aldhem’s Head is also well worth it and the views are fantastic.
Dogs at Chapman’s Pool
Chapman’s Pool welcomes dogs all year round.
Swanage
The largest town in Purbeck, Swanage is a traditional seaside resort. There is a blue flag beach, fish and chip shops, ice cream kiosks and a sheltered bay. There is a good selection of places to eat and nice places to walk, including Durlston Country Park. Swanage Railway makes a great day out.
Dogs at Swanage
Dogs are welcome between October and April.
Studland Bay
Studland Bay has 4 miles of pristine golden sand, split up into the Middle Beach, Knoll Beach and Shell Bay. The beach slopes gently and is great for swimming, kayaking and paddling. There are nice places to eat, including The Bankes Arms, Pig on the Beach and Shell Bay Restaurant.
Dogs at Studland Bay
Between May and September, Dogs must be kept on a lead on South Beach, Middle Beach and the southern part of Knoll Beach. On Shell Beach there are no restrictions, however the National Trust does request that dogs are kept under control at all times to protect the nature reserve.
Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch
Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch have fantastic sandy beaches that stretch for miles, from Sandbanks all the way to Hengistbury Head.
Dogs at Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch
Only assistance dogs are allowed on Brownsea Island but all dogs are welcome all year round at Hamworthy Beach, also in Poole Harbour. The stretch of beach from Sandbanks to Hengistbury Head is interspersed with dog-friendly areas and areas that have restrictions between May and September – see the map at the top of this post for exact locations.
West Dorset Leisure Holidays
West Dorset Leisure Holidays are a family run group of 5 holiday parks on or near the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. The parks offer excellent accommodation and facilities and each of them is unique, so you are bound to find one to suit you. Accommodation includes lodges, caravans, glamping and pitches for touring & camping.
Facilities include Martin’s Bar & Restaurant, Highlands End Leisure Club, the Little Fire Station Soft Play and park nature trails. The parks are family friendly, dog friendly and are situated in beautiful coastal and countryside locations with a great range of places to visit and things to do nearby. We have caravan and lodge holiday homes for sale across all 5 parks. Find out more here, or check availability and make a booking.
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