Dog Friendly Beaches in Dorset

Dorset's fantastic coastline is the perfect place for your four legged friend to explore.

Running on the sand, playing in the surf and chasing endless numbers of sticks; a doggy day at the beach can be fabulous fun!

Why not check out the fabulous blogs by our regular guest blogger, Dylan, on exploring dog friendly locations in Dorset.

Find a dog friendly beach near you

We've compiled the list below to provide further details on beaches in Dorset that welcome dogs to come and play!

Abbotsbury Beach - Chesil Bank & Fleet Lagoon Nature Reserve
Chesil Beach at Abbotsbury to the Tank Teeth Boundary, dogs are welcome all year. From the Tank Teeth Boundary at Abbotsbury to the Portland Boundary Stone, dogs are welcome on leads to the outer flank (seaward side) of the beach from 1 September to 30 April (at other times dogs are not allowed). There is no public access outside of these dates. At the Fleet Lagoon Nature Reserve, access is only via the South West Coast Path, there is no public access along the shorelines of the Fleet to protect wildlife.

Alum Chine
Dogs are allowed all year between Branksome Dene Chine and Alum Chine Beach Office. For the rest of the beach, dogs are not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. From 1 October to 30 April, dogs are welcome off lead on all sections of Alum Chine Beach. Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade, zigzag paths and cliff paths at all times.

Avon Beach
Dogs are welcome off lead on Avon Beach between 1 October and 30 April (at other times, dogs are not allowed). Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade at all times.

Boscombe Beach
Dogs welcome all year at the dog-friendly section of Boscombe Beach at nearby Fishermans Walk Beach. For the rest of the beach, dogs are not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. From 1 October to 30 April, dogs are allowed off lead on all sections of Boscombe Beach. Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade, Pier, zigzag paths and cliff paths at all times.

Bournemouth Beaches
Dogs welcome all year round on Bournemouth beaches, however between 1 May and 30 September may only be exercised on the following signposted sections of beach:
Border between Poole and Bournemouth beaches to Groyne 3 (Alum Chine beach office),
Groynes 5 to 7 (Middle Chine to Durley Chine),
Groynes 32 to 41 (Fisherman’s Walk to Southbourne), and
Groyne 45 to Hengistbury Head.
From 1 October to 30 April, dogs are welcome on all sections of Bournemouth's beaches.
Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade, Pier, zigzag paths and cliff paths at all times.

Bowleaze Cove
Dogs welcome all year, off lead at Bowleaze Cove.

Branksome Chine
Dogs are welcome all year between Branksome Dene Chine and Alum Chine Beach Office. For the rest of the beach, dogs are not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. From 1 October to 30 April, dogs are welcome off lead on all sections of Branksome Chine Beach. Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade, zigzag paths and cliff paths at all times.

Burton Bradstock (Hive Beach)
Dogs welcome all year at the dog friendly area of Burton Bradstock Beach heading east towards Cogden Beach, past the wooden chalet. No dogs on the main beach from 1 June - 30 September, except assistance dogs (at other times of the year dogs can be off lead).

Canford Cliffs
Dogs are welcome at Canfor Cliffs Beach from 1 October to 30 April (at other times, dogs are not allowed). Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade, zigzag paths and cliff paths at all times.

Charmouth - East Beach
Dogs are welcome off leads on Charmouth East Beach (on the Bridport side of the River Char) at any time of the year. Dogs should be on leads at all times in all car parks and footpaths around the beach.

Charmouth - West Beach
At Charmouth West Beach (on the Lyme Regis side of the River Char to level with the end of the promenade) dogs are welcome off lead from 1 October to 30 April - dogs are not allowed from 1 May-30 September. Dogs should be on leads at all times in all car parks and footpaths around the beach.

Cogden Beach
Dogs welcome all year, off lead at Cogden Beach.

Durdle Door and Man O' War
Dogs welcome all year, off lead at Durldle Door and Man O' War Beaches. Please note there are no dog waste or litter bins on the beaches, the nearest ones are in the car park.

Durley Chine Beach
Dogs welcome all year at Durley Chine Beach between groyne 5 (Middle Chine) and groyne 7 (Durley Chine). For the rest of the beach, dogs are not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. From 1 October to 30 April, dogs are allowed off lead on all sections of Durley Chine Beach. Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade, zigzag paths and cliff paths at all times.

Eype Beach
Dogs welcome all year, off lead at Eype Beach.

Friars Cliff Beach
Dogs welcome on Friars Cliff Beach from 1 October to 30 April (at other times, dogs are not allowed). Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade, cliff steps and cliff paths at all times.

Gundimore Beach
Dogs welcome all year, off lead at Gundimore Beach. Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade at all times.

Hamworthy Park Beach
Dogs welcome all year, off lead at Hamworthy Park Beach. Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade at all times.

Hengistbury Head Beach
Dogs welcome all year at Hengistbury Head Beach - please keep dogs on a lead to protect wildlife as this is a nature reserve.

Highcliffe Beach
Dogs are welcome all year, off lead at Highcliffe Beach with the exception of the section of the beach between groynes H4 and H8. From 1 May to 30 September, dogs are not allowed on the beach between groynes H4 and H8 (at other times, dogs are allowed off lead). Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade and cliff paths at all times.

Highcliffe Castle Beach
Dogs are welcome off lead on Highcliffe Castle Beach all year. Dogs should be on a lead on the zigzag path and cliff paths at all times.

Kimmeridge Bay
Dogs welcome all year, off lead at Kimmeridge Bay.

Lulworth Cove
Dogs welcome all year on left hand side of slipway at Lulworth Cove.

Lyme Regis Beaches
Dogs welcome all year, off lead on East Cliff Beach, Church Cliff Beach and Monmouth Beach. Dogs also welcome at Lyme Regis Front Beach on lead from 1 October to 30 April. No dogs on Front Beach (sandy beach) and Cobb Beach (shingle beach) from 1 May to 30 September. Dogs should be on lead on the pathways adjacent to the beaches.

Mudeford Sandbank
Dogs allowed all year, off lead at Mudeford Sandbank. If accessing the beach via Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve, dogs should be under close control at all times to protect wildlife.

Poole Beaches
Dogs are welcome on all Poole beaches between 1 October and 30 April. Between 1 May and 30 September, dogs are not allowed on any of Poole's Blue Flag beaches (which include Sandbanks, Shore Road, Canford Cliffs and Branksome Chine). Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade at all times.

Ringstead Beach
Dogs welcome all year, off lead at Ringstead Beach.

Sandbanks Beach
There is a designated dog beach area at the western end of Sandbanks Beach to Haven Point (by the chain ferry) which is available all year. Dogs are not allowed on the main beach from 1 May to 30 September (at other times, dogs are allowed off lead). Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade at all times.

Seatown Beach
Dogs welcome off lead from 1 October to 30 April at Seatown Beach, at other times, dogs are not allowed.

Shore Road Beach
Dogs are welcome at Shore Road Beach between 1 October and 30 April (at other times, dogs are not allowed). Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade at all times.

Southbourne Beach
Dogs welcome all year at the dog-friendly section of beach at Fishermans Walk Beach (Groynes 32 to 41) or Hengistbury Head Beach. For the rest of the beach, dogs are not allowed from 1 May to 30 September. From 1 October to 30 April, dogs are allowed off lead on all sections of Southbourne Beach. Dogs should be on a lead on the promenade, zigzag paths and cliff paths at all times.

Studland Bay
Dogs welcome all year at Studland Beaches how restrictions apply at certain times of the year. Dogs should be on lead at all access points onto the beaches to protect wildlife on the adjacent heathland. Between 1 May and 30 September, dogs on the beaches must be on a lead less than 2 metres in length (at other times of the year dogs can be off lead).

Swanage Beach
Dogs welcome all year, off lead at Swanage's Monkey Beach (between Stone Quay and Swanage Pier). Dogs welcome off lead on Swanage's main beach between 1 October and 30 April. On The Parade and adjacent roads leading to the beaches, dogs should be on leads at all times.

West Bay Beaches
Dogs are welcome off lead between 1 October and 30 April on all 3 of West Bay's beaches. Dogs are not allowed on East Beach (east of the Pier) or West Beach (west of the Pier) between 1 May and 30 September. The third beach is separated from West Beach by a large rock groyne, there are no restrictions on this beach. Dogs should be on lead at all times around the harbourside and on the esplanade.

West Bexington Beach
Dogs welcome all year within a designated area at West Bexington Beach.

Weymouth Beaches
Dogs welcome all year, off lead, within an allocated dog exercise area at the Pavilion end of Weymouth beach. Dogs are also welcome off lead on the sandy section of the beach up to the Greenhill Groyne between 1 October and 30 April. There are no restrictions from Preston Beach through to Bowleaze Cove. Dogs should be on lead at all times on The Esplanade. No dogs on the sandy beach up to the Greenhill Groyne from 1 May-30 September. 

Worbarrow Bay
Dogs welcome all year, off lead at Worbarrow Bay.

Please help us to keep Dorset beautiful by cleaning up after your dog.

Guide Dogs: There are exemptions for assistance dogs written within the Public Spaces Protection Orders. As long as the dog is liveried in the exempted areas no officer will challenge, however where no livery is worn you may be challenged but enforcement officers would consider next step actions i.e. if an ID card is shown identifying the dog as an assistance dog again no fixed penalty notice would be served. Where no evidence of the dog being an assistance dog is presented, a Fixed Penalty Notice may be served and the enforcement officer would invite the recipient to provide details of ‘mitigating’ circumstances in writing.