Enny Sulivan
Best Dog Friendly Beaches Jurassic Coast – Over 35% of our customers take their dog on holiday and who can blame them! The Dorset coast is a fantastic place to enjoy the sights and walks, so why not get the whole family involved and visit Dorset’s dog-friendly beaches?
All of our parks are dog-friendly and have great dog facilities, including dog kennels for off-leash walks, water bowls, food, treats and toys for sale, and even a dog shower menu (facilities vary by park to park). Many establishments and places to eat and drink in the area also accept dogs, and at Highlands End Holiday Park Martin’s Bar Restaurant welcomes dogs in many areas of the site.
Best Dog Friendly Beaches Jurassic Coast
One of the most frequently asked questions to our booking team is which beaches in Dorset are dog friendly. So we’ve created an interactive map for you to explore. You can also scroll this page for more information about each beach, from west to east.
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Lyme Regis, known as the ‘Pearl of Dorset’, offers a wide variety of beaches, as well as the Cobb harbor wall, Langmoor Gardens and a high street with independent shops, many of which are dog-friendly and dog friendly. It is a great place to walk the dogs and enjoy the beautiful view.
Monmouth Beach, west of Lyme Regis, and Church Beach, east, are dog-friendly all year round. Dogs are welcome between October and April at Front Beach. Lead restrictions apply to Cart Road, Sea Parade and nearby sea beaches.
There are no restrictions on East Beach (on the Golden Cap River). The west beach (Lyme Regis side of the river) only allows dogs between October and April, extending to the bridge at the end of the promenade. Further, according to Lyme Regis, dogs are allowed on a lead all year round.
Just a short walk from our Golden Cap Holiday Park and next to The Anchor Inn, Seatown Beach offers panoramic views of the Jurassic Coast with access to the South West Coast Path for you and your four-legged friend to explore. It is located between the 2 highest points on the south coast of England: Golden Cap and Thorncombe Beacon.
Stunning Dorset Beaches You Have To Visit
Eype is a beautiful, unspoilt and evocative beach just a 500 meter walk from Highlands End Holiday Park. This secluded spot is the perfect place to get away, relax and enjoy the scenery. As a lesser-known beach, it is relatively quiet and offers a lovely walk to the top of Thorncombe Beacon, with views across the coast to Portland Bill.
West Bay is a beautiful fishing village, located around the harbor. The setting of ITV’s crime drama Broadchurch, West Bay has become an increasingly popular destination in recent years and there is plenty to see and do, making it easy to spend a whole day learning. There is a good selection of places to eat and drink, and a boat trip or fishing trip is a great way to see the coast from a different perspective.
Dogs are welcome on the east and west beaches between October and April. From the top of the cliffs, dogs are welcome at any time, but care should be taken to stay away from the base of the cliffs. On permitted beaches, dogs may be kept off-leash, but must be reasonably controlled.
Burton Bradstock is home to our Graston Copse Larkfield Holiday Parks. A small village on the Jurassic Coast Road between Bridport and Abbotsbury, ‘Burton’ is famous for its thatched cottages, quality country pubs and the wonderful beach cafe ‘Hive Beach’. On top of the cliff, Seaside Residence overlooks the beach with its terrace, cocktail bar and restaurant.
East Cliff Beach
There are no official restrictions at Burton Bradstock, but the National Trust requires that dogs are not used in the main area of Hive Beach between May and September. If you go east or west from the main beach, facing the cliffs, dogs are welcome here all year round. Please stay away from the base of the cliffs.
Cogden Beach is a quiet area of Chesil Beach, popular with fishermen and dog walkers. The National Trust has a car park a few hundred meters up the hill on the Jurassic Coast Road. The beach is bordered by agricultural land and reeds, creating a haven for bird species and wild flowers.
West Bexington is another quieter area of Chesil Beach, off the beaten track. The coastal village off the Jurassic Coast Road has a beach car park, Clubhouse Café and nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest behind the beach.
West Bexington accepts dogs all year round in designated areas – see beach signs for more information.
Places To Visit In Dorset
Abbotsbury is a picturesque village on the Jurassic Coast Road, with attractions including Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Abbotsbury Swannery and Abbotsbury Children’s Farm. It is known for its thatched houses, teahouses and art galleries. There is parking on the beach and you can explore this part of Chesil Beach and walk to St Catherine’s Chapel, situated on the hillside overlooking the Naval Lagoon.
Abbotsbury Beach, where Fleet Lagoon begins, accepts dogs all year round. From Navy Lagoon to Portland, dogs are allowed on a leash on the seaward side of the beach between September and April.
Weymouth is a traditional seaside town, famous for its long stretch of golden sand. The town has many shops, restaurants, entertainment and attractions, including the Sea Life Centre, Sand World, Nothe Fort, the harbor and water sports.
Dogs are welcome on the main beach from November 1 to Good Friday and throughout the year in the dog exercise area at the end of the beach pavilion. Dogs are welcome at Bowleaze Cove all year round.
The Jurassic Coast
Church Ope is a secluded cove and beach on the sheltered east coast of the Isle of Portland. With cliffs on 3 sides, the beach is sheltered from the winds and is popular for swimming, fishing and snorkelling, as well as diving to several wrecks in the surrounding waters. There are 2 paths and stairs leading to the beach, and free parking is 400 meters from Pennsylvania Castle.
Osmington Beach is another hidden gem of the Jurassic Coast. There is a lovely village leading to the beach and the South West Coast Path, as well as the Smuggler’s Inn. The beach is rough and quiet and ideal for exploring rather than sunbathing due to its rocky nature. At high tide, rocky pools inhabited by sea urchins and starfish appear.
Ringstead Bay is another quiet pebble beach with views of Weymouth and the Isle of Portland. It’s popular with families and visitors looking for a quieter, less crowded beach day. There is a cafe and shop on the beach and it is one of the few places on the Jurassic Coast where the South West Coast Path runs along the beach itself. The beach is closer than all the pebbles and gravel and the water is crystal clear, so bring your snorkel gear. Ringstead is just 5 miles from Sandyholme Holiday Park.
The Durdle Door is one of the most famous places in the whole of Great Britain. The 10,000-year-old limestone arch attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year and can be reached by a scenic walk from the parking lot. 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.
Top 9 Dog Friendly Beaches In Dorset
Lulworth Cove is a famous shell-shaped cove on the Jurassic Coast, situated next to the village of West Lulworth in Purbeck, just 7 miles from Sandyholme Holiday Park. It is a popular destination that attracts up to half a million visitors every year. There is ample parking, several attractive shops, pubs and ice cream stands, as well as an educational center for visitors and a souvenir shop.
Worbarrow Bay is an interesting and peaceful place. Part of the Lulworth Ranges, it is only accessible at weekends and school holidays and is accessible on foot from the car park at Tyneham Village, which was evacuated during the Second World War and has since been abandoned. The promenade is flat and about a kilometer away from the beach with a beautiful view and an attractive sea.
Kimmeridge is a beautiful rocky bay and one of the best places on the Jurassic Coast for fossils, marine life, rock collecting and diving. The bay is naturally protected and has crystal clear sea. There is a good view of the bay from Clavell Tower to the east. The nearby Etches collection is worth a visit
