Yorkshire is a fantastically dog-friendly county, and the East Yorkshire coast is packed with brilliant beaches, many of which are more than welcoming to our beach-lovin’ canine chums. Some allow sandy paws all year round and others have seasonal restrictions, so be sure to check before you go which ones will allow Fido and friends to stretch their legs on the sand before setting off.
You might want to think about what to pack before you head to these sandy shores, so check out our beach checklist for dogs.
Keep reading to see some of our favourite dog-friendly beaches in Yorkshire, or click below to find the perfect coastal cottage for your four-legged beach bum.
Best dog-friendly beach for a bracing walk
Hunmanby Gap near Filey
Woofers with long walkies on their minds will be thrilled to see the car heading in the direction of Hunmanby Gap. This lovely beach just 4 miles from Filey is H-U-G-E and stretches all the way down to Reighton Gap which is dog friendly all year round too! Carry on down to the Flamborough Headland Heritage Coast if you’ve got energetic pups with you, although you might want to leave the lighthouse to another day as it’s a good 12-mile walk!
For the sat nav: YO14 9QP
Any restrictions? None
Parking: Pay and display car park at the end of Sands Road - there is a little hill to access the beach.
Facilities: Hunmanby Beach Cafe with spectacular views and amazing cake; toilets.
Best dog-friendly beach for families
Bridlington
One for all the family, there are two massive sandy and pebbly beaches (North Beach and South Beach) for either sandcastle construction or destruction depending on which family members we are talking about! Both beaches in Bridlington are dog friendly all year round (some restrictions in summer) so grab the kids and dogs and just concentrate on having a good old-fashioned family day out. Buy some buckets and spades, a rounders set and fill an icebox with drinks and snacks, ready for sandy picnics and beach fun galore!
For the sat nav: YO15 2PL (North) and YO15 3JH (South)
Any restrictions? May to September - dogs are allowed but only beyond the coastguard station (North Beach) and beyond the boat launch (South Beach) and not in the area closest to the harbour.
Parking: There is parking in Bridlington and limited pay and display parking along South Marine Drive.
Facilities: A dog-friendly cafe called Richie’s Cafe Bar on the Princess Mary Promenade, which gives out free sausages to dogs when their owners eat there! There is also a great pub at Sewerby (2 miles up the beach from North Beach), The Ship Inn, which has a doggy menu for hungry tums! Public toilets in the town.
Best dog-friendly beach for adventurers
Sandsend near Whitby
The name very much reflects this beach on the North Yorkshire coast, situated between Runswick Bay and Whitby. Adventure-loving hounds can explore (with their humans, of course) the caves at the far end of the beach - just be aware of tide times. Splash about in the rivers that run down to the sea on the right-hand side and if your pup is really really brave, walk the 5 miles down the beach to visit scary Whitby Abbey which was the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula!
For the sat nav: YO21 3SU
Any restrictions? Car park behind the beach.
Parking: Some seasonal restrictions May to September.
Facilities: The delightful Sandside Cafe with big sea views (try the fresh crab sandwich), and a couple of coffee shops. Toilets just behind the dog-friendly part of the beach.
If you want to discover the rest of the wonderful dog-friendly beaches across the UK, check out our guide below.
Best dog-friendly resort beach
Scarborough Beach, South and North Bay
This one is great for canines who like to be amongst the crowds at one of our fabulous British seaside resorts. Not only does it boast one of the UK's top beaches, but the buzzing town of Scarborough is worth a visit too! Pups will be treated to two large sandy bays, divided by a rocky promontory on which the majestic ruins of 11th-century Scarborough Castle is perched.
Sociable dogs will love the more vibrant South Bay with its cafes, shops and theatres, while along the promenade at North Bay, the canine who likes to live a little on the wild side (not too much of course) will be happier with this friendly beach, backed by an esplanade, hills and cliffs. The North Bay is great for rock pooling, just look up the tide times in advance to avoid disappointment!
For the sat nav: YO11 1NT (South) and YO12 7TP (North)
Any restrictions? Seasonal restrictions May to September on both beaches.
Parking: Pay and display car park at the end of Sands Road - there is a little hill to access the beach. Also, underground car parking next to the beach under the Spa Bridge and on the West Pier.
Facilities: Cafes, restaurants, ice cream parlours (South) and cafe/restaurant (North); toilets; first aid; lost children post.
Most scenic dog-friendly beach
Robin Hood's Bay
Well known for its amazing scenery, this is one for those dogs who like their beach run with a view. Popular with photographers, Robin Hoods Bay's natural beauty of craggy cliffs and sweeping bay views is a powerful backdrop to a great dog run. Play chase all the way along to Boggle Hole when the tide is out, when huge swathes of wet sand appear, just waiting for your pooch to make their paw print.
For the sat nav: YO22 4SJ
Any restrictions? None
Parking: No parking by the seafront but two public car parks in the village. The car park is at the top of the hill so only good for people and dogs who can cope with the climb down through the village. You can stop at one of the tearooms on the way up for a break though so it’s not all bad.
Facilities: Lots of dog-friendly eateries in the town, some with dog snacks.
Our personal favourite
Flamborough North Landing
Scoop up your favourite four legs and head on down to our preferred stretch of sand, North Landing Beach in Flamborough. There are various parts to this sandy and pebbly beach where dogs can run and splash about, and at low tide, rock pooling is a favourite activity for inquisitive canines with children in tow. The scenery is outstanding – white chalk cliffs backed by grassy hills peering down over the North Sea. It’s a great spot for birdwatching and you may even be lucky enough to spot the odd orange-beaked puffin.
For the sat nav: YO15 1BJ
Any restrictions? None
Parking: Car park – the descent to the beach is quite steep so not ideal for wobbly woofers.
Facilities: Cafe, toilets.
Yorkshire dog-friendly beaches with no restrictions
If you like your paws sandy and your tummy wet, these beaches are just a handful of the many dog-welcoming coastal delights up and down the Yorkshire coast. For a full list of Yorkshire beaches that allow dogs with no restrictions, click below:
1. Barmston
2. Cayton Bay
3. Danes Dyke (Flamborough)
4. Earls Dyke
5. Fraisthorpe
6. Hayburn Wyke
7. Hornsea South Beach
8. Kettleness
9. Mappleton
10. Marske Sands
11. North Landing (Flamborough)
12. Port Mulgrave
13. Reighton
14. Robin Hoods Bay
15. Runswick Bay
16. Selwicks Bay
17. Skipsea
18. South Landing (Flamborough)
19. Staithes
20. Stoupe Beck Sands
21. Thornwick Bay
22. Wilsthorpe
Bring your dogs on holiday to Yorkshire!
All that running about on the sands and jumping through the waves deserves a lovely place to rest your paws. Have a sniff through our collection of dog-friendly cottages on the Yorkshire Coast to find one for your whole family. Some come with large gardens to have a morning stretch in, some have outside showers to wash off sandy paws and others are steps away from the beach, perfect for those who just like to step out to the sands in the morning.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.