Dog-friendly beaches in Wales

Wales is a great choice for a dog-friendly holiday, with a good selection of dog-friendly accommodation, plenty of dog-friendly attractions to visit, and a wealth of countryside to explore on dog walks.

The spectacular Wales Coast Path, the first of its kind anywhere in the world, traverses all 870 miles of the country’s incredible and varied coastline. It's perfect for dog walking, with spectacular views of the coast. But if your pup has a penchant for sandy paws, or is a salty sea-loving dog, then your four-legged friend will sit up and beg to be taken to one of Wales' many dog-friendly beaches.

When out and about on canine adventures, be a responsible dog walker and follow the Countryside Code and the Dog Walking Code. Diolch!

Some beaches in Wales have seasonal restrictions for dog walking. These are put in place by the local authorities and can change from time to time. When planning your day out, double-check the latest local information on the council website. Find local authority areas using a postcode on the Find your local council website.

Wild and rugged Penmon Point Beach is in the far southwest of Anglesey. Across the pebbled beach, the striped 18th-century Trwyn Du lighthouse stands proud with views of Puffin Island beyond. In season, there are often seal sightings in the waters here and the rock pools are busy with crabs and anemones. After a windswept walk, there’s a cute and quirky café above the beach where you can refuel.

How to get there: Head over the Menai Bridge, turn right along the coast road past Beaumaris Castle then wind your way to the point. There’s a small toll in place to drive the final stretch (£3.50) and a car park.

What else? Treat yourself to a fry-up or afternoon tea at the dog-friendly Pilot House Café above the beach. There are also several interesting ruins to roam, including an old monastery, dovecote and church.

At the southern tip of the Llŷn Peninsula, the sweeping bay at Porth Ceiriad offers dramatic views and a good stretch of open sand for zooming along. Quiet during the week, it gets busier on summer weekends with a mix of families and water sports enthusiasts. It’s a south-facing, sheltered and sandy beach, so it’s favoured for sunbathing, while in winter there’s impressive swell for experienced surfers.

How to get there: Drive south from Abersoch along Lon Sarn Bach, pass the Bwlchtocyn turnoff and take the next left. A narrow dead-end road winds its way to the clifftop car park. From there it’s a five-minute walk across a field and down some steep steps.

What else? Admire spectacular views from nearby Cilan Uchaf. On a clear day, you can gaze across the glittering bay to the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and its neighbouring peaks.

Conwy Morfa Beach is one of the few sandy stretches in Conwy Bay that allows dogs to visit year-round. It’s on the southern side of the estuary with views across to the Great Orme. At low tide, Conwy Morfa becomes a vast stretch of sand that links up with some of the other sandy beaches of the bay, while at high tide it’s nothing more than a narrow strip of shingles. To avoid disappointing your pooch, check tide times and note that once the tide turns, it does come in quite quickly.

How to get there: Easy to find, Conwy Morfa is a short drive west from Conwy and there’s a small, free car park (arrive early on a summery day).

What else? Explore the historic streets of nearby Conwy or stroll along to the marina for a bite to eat.

Cilborth is a Green Coast Award-winning beach immediately north of Llangrannog. Insiders whisper that this is the most spectacular part of the Ceredigion section of Wales Coast Path. It can be accessed from Llangrannog beach at low tide or via the cliff steps. This secluded cove looks out at Carreg Bica, a giant tooth-shaped rock, around which you can find caves and rock-pools to explore. Man’s best friend can roam without restriction any time of the year.

How to get there: Turn off the A487 at Brynhoffnant, north of Cardigan, and follow the B4334 towards Llangrannog, or bus service 552 (Cardi Bach) runs from New Quay to Cardigan via Llangrannog.

What else? Llangrannog is also the home to the renowned activity centre and hostel, Gwersyll yr Urdd Llangrannog. The centre was founded in 1932 and continues to offer excellent facilities for activities for the rest of the family.

While Borth’s town beach has summer restrictions for canines, neighbouring Ynyslas Beach welcomes dogs throughout the year. This wide-open stretch of sand is wild and beautiful and is backed by the Dyfi National Nature Reserve. The Ynyslas Visitor Centre next to the beach has interesting exhibits and information about the area.

How to get there: Head north from Borth to the Ynyslas Visitor Centre and follow signs for the beach car park. Note that at very high tides the car park is flooded, so look out for signage.

What else? The whole of the Dyfi National Nature Reserve is dog-friendly, but dogs should be kept on leads in certain areas, especially during the summer when the salt marsh and dunes become an important breeding ground for bird-life.

Search for other Dog-Friendly Beaches in Mid Wales.

The golden sands and crystal-clear waters of Barafundle Bay beach have been likened to those of the Caribbean. Luckily, your pet need not miss out on this treat of a beach as it is dog-friendly all year round. Woof! There’s a steep walk down to the beach area, but the stone steps are suitable for dogs and the climb is well worth the effort.

How to get there: Parking is available at Stackpole Quay, Stackpole, and Broad Haven South.

What else? The nearby Bosherston Lily Ponds offer a different waterside walk, where dogs are welcome. This relaxing lakeside amble takes in plenty of wildlife, so keep dogs on a lead. The nearby St Govan’s Country Inn is dog-friendly and offers a varied menu including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

For a beach that packs a double punch, visit Manorbier. Not only is it a large, sandy and pebbly beach, but it also has a stately castle looking down onto it. Kick back with your pooch imagining what it'd be like to live in such a grand fortress with the coastline outside your window. The beach is popular with surfers because of its south-westerly position, but take care of your dogs near the water as there are sometimes strong currents.

How to get there: Head west from the seaside town of Tenby and on through Penally. You can park in the valley car park behind the beach, or up on the cliff to watch the surfers.

What else? The village of Manorbier is only a short walk away where you'll find The Castle Inn, a cafe and a beach shop. For more wanderings, walk west along the coast path to the lovely Swanlake Bay (also dog-friendly year-round).

The two beaches at Burry Port lie on either side of the marina, a former harbour used for the transportation of coal - both are dog-friendly year-round. The easterly beach is a mile long, backed by dunes and has a cycle path that takes you to Llanelli. Meanwhile, the westerly beach is open and sandy before becoming a long inlet and has a cycle path to Pembrey. That should leave plenty of scope for exploring.

How to get there: Take junction 48 (to A4138) from the M4, followed by the A476 and A484. There is limited free car parking at the bottom of Heol Vaughan and a pay-and-display car park at the harbour.

What else? The centre of the village is five minutes from the beach. There's a railway station, a bakery and several eateries and pubs. Make sure to wander around the harbour; it's where Amelia Earhart landed after becoming the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.

Once ranked by the Times as ‘The UK's No.1 dog-friendly beach’, and one of Trip Advisor’s top 10 beaches anywhere on the face of Earth, Rhossili’s three-mile-long stretch of sand is arguably the most recognisable in Wales. Dogs are allowed all year round and tend to particularly enjoy frolicking in the wet sand at low tide and stretching their legs on the expansive sands. All National Trust beaches on Gower welcome dogs throughout the year. 

How to get there: The beach is accessed down a path from the village of Rhossili, which is at the end of the B4247. The National Trust-owned car park also has electric vehicle charging points and new cycle racks. 

What else? Enjoy a gentle circular walk on the Wales Coast Path, via Llangennith, then along the cliffs overlooking the stunning beach, and back along the beach itself. A paw-fect stop-off point is the 17th century King’s Head pub in the village of Llangennith. Here you can expect hearty food and ale, and if you’re set for round two tomorrow, pet-friendly accommodation.

Just east of Porthcawl, wide and sandy Newton Beach forms part of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast and arches around from Newton Point to the mouth of the River Ogmore. It’s one of the quieter beaches around Porthcawl with large expanses of sand interspersed with rocks. At low tide, there are dozens of rock pools to explore and Merthyr Mawr dunes back onto a section of the beach.

How to get there: Head east from Porthcawl and choose between a couple of small car parks along the beach road. Another option is to park in the pretty little village of Newton, a 10-minute walk from the bay.

What else? Make a day of it and continue your walk into the adjacent dunes, through the Merthyr Mawr Nature Reserve and onto the neighbouring dog-friendly Ogmore Beach.

Also on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, the secluded cove of Temple Bay brings a wilder dog-walking destination to the table. Temple Bay is a small cove which sits in Dunraven Bay (Southerndown Beach) where there are seasonal restrictions for dogs on the beach. High cliffs provide expansive views across the bay from the evocatively named Witches Point. Turn your gaze inland and you'll spy the ruins of Dunraven Castle along with the remains of an Iron Age Hillfort.

How to get there: Parking is at Dunraven Bay (Southerndown Beach). From there it’s a half-mile walk along the coast with a steep descent to the beach.

What else? There are plenty of dog-friendly days out on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, with historic villages and castles to explore and many coastal trails. The Dunraven Walled Gardens are a short walk from the Dunraven Bay (Southerndown Beach) car park and welcome well-behaved dogs into the grounds.