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
From the Tank Teeth Boundary at Abbotsbury to the Portland Boundary Stone. Dogs welcome 1 September to 30 April. No public access outside of these times. Access to the outer flank (seaward side) of the beach outside of these dates - dogs on leads. Fleet Lagoon Nature Reserve - South West Coast Path. No public access along the shorelines of the Fleet.

Alum Chine
Dogs welcome all year round on Bournemouth beaches, however between 1 May and 30 September, dogs must be kept on a lead on the promenades and paths at all times, and may only be exercised on the following signposted sections of beach:
Border with Poole beaches to Groyne 3 (Alum Chine beach office)

Avon Beach
Dogs welcome on the beach between 1 October and 30 April. From 1 May to 30 September, dogs must be on a lead when on the prom, cliff steps and cliff pathways.

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/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)
Groyne 45 to Hengistbury Head
Dogs must be kept on a lead on the promenades, piers and paths at all times.

Bowleaze Cove
Dogs welcome at all times.

Branksome Chine
Dogs are allowed 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 Branksome Chine). Always keep dogs on a lead on the promenade. Please note: Guide dogs are allowed on Poole beaches all year round. 

Burton Bradstock (Hive Beach)
Dogs welcome all year. No restriction enforced except fouling clearance and disposal.

Canford Cliffs
Dogs are allowed 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 Canford Cliffs). Always keep dogs on a lead on the promenade. Please note: Guide dogs are allowed on Poole beaches all year round. 

Charmouth - East Beach
Dogs welcome off lead at all times at Charmouth East Beach (Golden Cap side of the river). Dogs should be on lead at all times within the car park and access to the beach.

Charmouth - West Beach
Dogs welcome off lead from 1 October to 30 April at Charmouth West Beach (the Lyme Regis side of the river). No restrictions from end of promenade bridge going west towards Lyme Regis. Dogs should be on lead at all times within the car park and access to the beach.

Church Ope Cove
Dogs welcome at all times.

Cogden Beach
Dogs welcome at all times.

Durdle Door and Man O' War
Dogs welcome at all times.

Eype Beach
Dogs welcome at all times.

Fishermans Walk
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:
Groynes 32 to 41 (Fisherman’s Walk to Southbourne).
Dogs must be kept on a lead on the promenades and paths at all times.

Friars Cliff Beach
Dogs welcome on the beach from 1 October to 30 April. Dogs must be on a lead when on the promenade, cliff steps and cliff pathways at all times.

Gundimore Beach
Dogs welcome at all times.

Highcliffe Beach
Dogs welcome all year except between groynes H4 and H8. Dogs must be on a lead when on the promenade, cliff steps and cliff pathways at all times.

Highcliffe Castle Beach
Dogs welcome at all times.

Kimmeridge Bay
Dogs welcome at all times.

Lulworth Cove
Dogs welcome at all times.

Lyme Regis Beaches
Dogs are welcome on lead between 1 October and 30 April at Front Beach. Dogs are not allowed on Front Beach between 1 May and 30 September. On lead restrictions apply on the adjacent Cart Road, Marine Parade and Sea wall beaches. Monmouth Beach and Church Beach allow dogs all year.

Mudeford Sandbank
Dogs welcome at all times.

Poole Beaches
Dogs are allowed 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). Always keep dogs on a lead on the promenade. Please note: Guide dogs are allowed on Poole beaches all year round. 

Ringstead Beach
Dogs welcome at all times.

Sandbanks Beach
Dogs are allowed 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). Always keep dogs on a lead on the promenade. Please note: Guide dogs are allowed on Poole beaches all year round. 

Seatown Beach
Dogs welcome off lead from 1 October to 30 April.

Shore Road Beach
Dogs are allowed 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 Shore Road). Always keep dogs on a lead on the promenade. Please note: Guide dogs are allowed on Poole beaches all year round. 

Southbourne Beach
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:
Groynes 32 to 41 (Fisherman’s Walk to Southbourne).
Dogs must be kept on a lead on the promenades and paths at all times.

Studland Bay
Dogs are welcome at Knoll Beach and Middle Beach all year, but from 1 May until 30 September, they must be kept on a 2 metre lead on all beaches.

On the access to South Beach and the car park, dogs should be on lead at all times.

Swanage Beach
Dogs are welcome all year round on Monkey Beach, which is located by the old stone quay, close to the pier. Dogs welcome off lead on the central 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
Within the East Pier to East Cliffs and West Pier to West Cliffs areas, dogs are welcome off lead between 1 October and 30 April. The other beaches adjacent have no restrictions but care should be taken due to cliff falls. Dogs should be on lead at all times around the harbourside and on the esplanade.

West Bexington Beach
Dogs welcome at all times within a specific area.

Weymouth Beaches
Dogs welcome all year round within a specific area close to the Pavillion. Dogs are also welcome off lead on the central and Greenhill beaches between 1 October and 30 April. There are no restrictions from Preston Beach through to Bowleaze. Dogs should be on lead at all times on the esplanade.

Worbarrow Bay
Dogs welcome at all times.

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

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.