BEACH GUIDE
The UK has lots of amazing dog friendly beaches near you to enjoy and explore.
During the winter most have no dog restrictions at all and your free to where ever you like. Most councils though impose restrictions during the summer season and therefore some beaches have restrictions typically from the 1st May until 30th September.
During those warmer summer months however there are still plenty of beaches to explore and enjoy so take a look below to find out which beaches are dog friendly for the summer or take a look at “The Map” for more details.
Please remember though that whilst visiting any beach though please keep your dog supervised, under control and at all times and clear up any fouling immediately so not to spoil the enjoyment for others.
Dog friendly beaches in the Kent County Council area
Swale Beaches
The following beaches have dog restrictions in place from 1st May until 30th September. Visit Swale Council website for the latest up to date information by clicking HERE.
- Sheerness Beach – Located just behind the high street and is a designated EU bathing beach.
- Minster Leas – Recreation and bathing beach.
- Leysdown on Sea – EU designated bathing beach.
All other beaches are dog friendly all year round and these include:
- Marine Parade Beach in Sheerness – Primarily used for sailing.
- The Shingle Bank next to Minster Leas – Windsurfing and water sports beach.
- The Conservation Coast – A three mile stretch from the Leas to Warden Bay. Steep cliffs in this area can produce landslides so can be dangerous.
- Little Groves Beach – Sandy beach accessed via the Little Groves Leisure Park.
Canterbury Beaches
The following beaches have dog restrictions in place from 1st May until 30th September. Visit Canterbury Council website for the latest up to date information by clicking HERE.
- Tankerton Bay – Shingle beach.
- Herne Bay Central Beach – Sandy bathing beach
All other beaches are dog friendly all year round and these include:
- Seasalter – Pebble beach.
- Whitstable – Pebble beach.
Thanet Beaches
Thanet has a two tiers of dog restrictions on their beaches which are in place from 1st May until 30th September. Visit Thanet Council website for the latest and up to date information by clicking HERE.
The following beaches do not allow dogs at any time during the restriction period.
- Minnis Bay (Main Area) in Birchington.
- Viking Bay in Broadstairs
- Walpole Bay in Cliftonville
- Main sands in Margate
- Main sands (Harbour end) in Ramsgate
The following beaches do not allow dogs between 10.00 hrs and 1800 hrs during the restriction period.
Broadstairs: Botany Bay, Joss Bay, Lousia Bay, Stone Bay, Westbrook, Westbrook Bay, WestgateWest Bay, St Mildred’s BayThe following beaches allow dogs all year round
Birchington: Grenham Bay, Epple Bay
Broadstairs: Dumpton Gap, Kingsgate Bay
Cliftonville: Foreness Point, Sacketts Gap, Palm Bay
Margate: Fulsom Rock
Ramsgate: Eastcliff, Western Undercliff
Dogs should be kept on a lead when on all pavement and promenades adjacent to all these beaches.
Dover Beaches
The following beaches have dog restrictions in place from 1st May until 30th September. Visit Dover Council website for the latest up to date information by clicking HERE.
Deal:
- Deal Beach between Deal Castle and Sandown Castle.
Dover:
- Dover Seafront Beach
- Waterloo Crescent
- Marine Parade
- St Margarets Bay
All other beaches are dog friendly all year round and these include:
- Deal Beach from Deal Castle to Kingsdown
- Sandwich Bay
- Shakespeare Cliff Beach
- Walmer Beach
Shepway Beaches
The following beaches have dog restrictions in place from 1st May until 30th September. Visit Shepway Council website for the latest and up to date information by clicking HERE.
Folkestone: Sunny Sands, Mermaids Beach (In front of Lower Leas Coastal Park)
Sandgate: Sandgate Castle to BP Garage.
Hythe: Twiss Road to St Leonard’s Road.
Dymchurch: Sycamore Gardens to Martello Car Park.
St Mary’s Bay: The Fairway to the river outfall.
Littlestone: Water tower at Madeira Road to Clark Road.
Greatstone: Beach opposite the Jolly Fisherman and beach opposite Romney Sands holiday camp
Re: Littlestone beach. Lovely stretch of sand when the tide is out, but please be aware of ‘Mudflat ‘ signs . Mudflats are so dangerous, and the depth of them is variable and unknown.