Dog-friendly beaches in North Devon

Em-paw-thy is knowing what it’s like to walk a mile in your dog’s shoes/paws and really identifying with what makes them tick. If you’ve experienced this as a dog owner, then you’ll know that a trip to the beach is one of the very best things you can do for your pup.

A stay with your dog in Devon wouldn’t be complete without visiting some of North Devon’s dog-friendly beaches. However, the last thing you want is to arrive and find out there is a ban in place or that there are restrictions during the time you’re visiting.

Fortunately, we’ve collated all the dog beaches in North Devon for you, whether they allow visits year-round, have some restrictions or if your poor pup isn’t allowed at all. And when you’re done combing our guide for a beach, take a look at our full guide to dog-friendly North Devon and seek your next dog-friendly place to stay.

Skip to:

• The best dog-friendly beaches in North Devon
• Beaches in North Devon that are dog friendly all year
• All beaches in North Devon that are dog-friendly with restrictions
• North Devon beaches which do not allow dogs
• Map of dog-friendly beaches in North Devon

The best dog-friendly beaches in North Devon

Interestingly, some of the best dog-friendly beaches in North Devon do have some restrictions but those beaches in question are so expansive that your four-pawed friend will not be short of space to scamper in.

Woolacombe Beach

The coastline around Woolacombe has many dog-friendly beaches, including Combesgate, Grunta and Lee Bay. But it’s Woolacombe Beach itself that is the main draw for dog owners when in this part of North Devon. Despite having some restrictions, there are parts of the beach that allow dogs year-round and the restricted areas equate to a small part of the total beach. The beach is among the best in the UK and is run with families in mind, with car parks, lifeguards, WCs and places to grab food and drink.

Find a cottage for you and your pup in dog-friendly Woolacombe and take advantage of this vast sandy beach.

Putsborough Beach

You may get confused when looking at a map and wondering how Putsborough Beach is any different to Woolacombe. The two beaches do, in fact, share the same 3-mile stretch of sand, with Putsborough, at the southern end of Woolacombe, offering a more sheltered beach tucked in below Baggy Point headland. They are also linked by being on our list of the top dog-friendly beaches in the whole of the UK. Putsborough is clean and has plenty of rock pools that wet noses will love exploring. There aren’t any lifeguards here but there is a car park, a WC and one shop/café.

We have plenty of dog-friendly cottages in nearby Woolacombe for you to stay in when visiting this marvellous beach.

Saunton Sands

Just a few miles south of Putsborough is the longest of our dog-friendly North Devon beaches and one of the most dog-friendly beaches in the whole of Devon. The renowned Saunton Sands has 4 miles of golden shoreline that your furry friend can run along all year without any restrictions. Your playful pup might be interested to know that this famous beach has played host to a number of popular music videos in the past, including Doggie Williams’ Angels. You’ll not run out of room here but if you need a change, the beach is backed by the UNESCO-protected Braunton Burrows Biosphere Reserve. This dune system is part of the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is guaranteed to tucker out little legs.

There’s a car park, WCs, a café and a beach shop – just enough to last you the day before returning to your self-catering cottage.

Westward Ho! Beach

Heading across the estuary of the Rivers Taw and Torridge will bring you to the 2-mile span of Westward Ho! Beach. Made up of a long, sandy beach with a pebble ridge all along one side, this popular stretch of coastline is backed by Northam Burrows Country Park and even curves around to the north-east where it becomes Greysands, another beach in North Devon that allows dogs. The water is perfect for pups looking for an exciting day of splashing and, at low tide, you can throw a ball safe in the knowledge that you’ll have large swathes of beach to yourself.

There are lifeguards posted during the summer and, at the southern end of the beach, there are many facilities including WCs, shops, eateries and even arcades where sandy paws are welcomed with dog treats.

Hele Bay

Heading east along the north coast of North Devon brings us to the first of our dog-friendly beaches near Ilfracombe. Hele Bay is a beautiful little cove made of sand and shingle and is a great spot if your dog isn’t a fan of crowds or other dogs. At low tide, there are plenty of rock pools to discover and even some smugglers’ caves to explore. With the Hillsborough Nature Reserve located right next door, this cove is one of the most scenic spots to bring your dog, and all the while, you’re only 1.5 miles from the dog-friendly town of Ilfracombe.

There aren’t many facilities at this beach but there are WCs, as well as a car park a couple of hundred metres from the slipway. Water sports are popular here so why not consider taking Rover out on a stand-up paddleboard before heading back to your Ilfracombe cottage?

Broadsands Beach

Another beautiful little bay in the Ilfracombe area is Broadsands Beach. Not to be confused with Broadsands on the English Riviera in South Devon, this north-west-facing cove is dog-friendly all throughout the year and rewards visitors with stunning views. To reach this gem of a pebble beach, there are over 200 steps down (and of course, the same back up so save some energy). As it is a small inlet, the beach all but disappears at high tide but at low tide, interesting caves are exposed and the calm waters by the shoreline make it a lovely spot to dip your toes and paws into. It is even cited as one of the best swimming beaches on the North Devon coast.

The closest car park and WCs are approximately 1.5 miles away by Combe Martin Beach, making Broadsands a truly off-the-beaten-track adventure for you and your pooch.

Lynmouth Beach

Also known as Blacklands Beach, this shore on the northern edge of Exmoor National Park is covered in shingle and is split down the middle by the mouth of the River Lyn. Found just below the village of Lynmouth, there are 500 metres of shingle for the pups to run on, and high cliffs, hills and woodlands surrounding the beach for those on two legs to admire. Dolphins and deer are often spotted in the sea and woodland respectively. There is plenty of parking in the village as well as two car parks by the river, and some road parking. There are WCs by the beach, along with a gift shop and a fish bar, and there are further amenities in Lynmouth and its sister village Lynton.

To get to Lynton, why not take the pooch on the cliff railway? Pick up my dinner and some dog treats to take back to your pet-friendly holiday home.

Mouthmill Beach

Found on the Hartland Devon Heritage Coast, Mouthmill is as remote a beach as it is dramatic. Just 2 miles west of Clovelly, this sand and rock beach has no restrictions throughout the year and has been the subject of many a wandering photographer (you’ll see why when you see Blackchurch Rock). You’ll need to walk through Brownsham Woods in order to get to the beach but this is no bad thing, especially in the spring when bluebells carpet the woods. Cross streams and wooden bridges to be met with extraordinary views of this craggy landscape that was dubbed the ‘Iron Coast’ due to the number of sailors it scuppered.

There’s a National Trust car park at the start of the woods walk and a tearoom in Lower Brownsham – just enough to recharge your batteries before returning to your Clovelly cottage.

Wild Pear Beach

Less than 0.5 miles from Combe Martin Beach (where dogs are banned in the summer months) lies the beautifully named Wild Pear Beach (where there are no restrictions at all!). Another beach where access is a little steep, this may only be a cove for spritely young pups and their owners. The accessibility works in your favour though as the beach is likely to be quiet, meaning you can romp over the sand and low-tide rocks without seeing another soul. This sandy cove is protected from offshore winds by the cliffs, meaning you’ll be kept warm on your walk. These same cliffs have pretty streams of water running down them, adding to the sense of calm.

The nearest parking available is in Combe Martin and there are no WCs here so prepare well.

Rockham Bay

The last on our list of the best dog-friendly beaches in North Devon is Rockham Bay, which is locally known as Mortehoe Beach. Another secluded portion of coastline with zero doggy restrictions, this is a sandy beach with rocky sections ready to be climbed by inquisitive canines. Leave the car in Mortehoe and strike out on the 1.25-mile coastal walk to the beach. Descend steep steps, glancing at the wildflowers on the banks all the while and then play in the rock pools with your furry friend. Ensure you go down at low tide as there isn’t much beach when the tide is high.

As just mentioned, there is no car park directly by the beach and the nearest WCs are in Mortehoe village too, but the isolated nature of some of North Devon’s beaches is what makes them so desirable … to you as well as your waggy-tailed pal.

Beaches in North Devon that are dog friendly all year

North Devon is enormously blessed when it comes to dog-friendly beaches. With coves and inlets dotted all along the North Exmoor coast and continuing south to the Hartland Heritage Coast near the Cornish border, there are just so many spots where you can take Fido off the lead and let them rush into the waves. Even better than that, many of the beaches on our forthcoming list are off the beaten track, meaning you’ll be avoiding the crowds on your next North Devon dog walk.

All beaches in North Devon that are dog-friendly with restrictions

As you’d imagine, many of the more popular, touristy beaches in North Devon do have some restrictions placed upon them, whether this means areas dogs are not permitted to roam or times of the year that dogs cannot visit the beach at all. This is to protect summer beachgoers from receiving unwanted attention whilst catching some rays. However, many of the beaches on this list are still large enough that there are certain zones that man’s best friend can rove even during the height of summer.

North Devon beaches which do not allow dogs

Unfortunately, there are a few beaches in North Devon that do not permit dogs to grace their sands at any point during the year. Fortunately, it genuinely is only a few. Avoid these three beaches and ensure that every dog will his day … well, every dog in your family pack anyway.

Map of dog-friendly beaches in North Devon

Green = dogs welcome all year

Amber = dogs welcome with restrictions

Red = dogs are not permitted on the beach

Self-catering stays in North Devon

After playing fetch and rolling around on the shore in the lapping waves, it’s time to get up and pay some attention to your dog! So why not treat him to a beautiful dog-friendly retreat in North Devon? We have cottages with wood burners, holiday homes with enclosed gardens and, of course, plenty of properties next to a beach. Find your perfect North Devon escape today.