10 Best Dog-Friendly Beaches In Devon

Here is our guide to the very best dog-friendly beaches in Devon, open year-round to your best furry friend, where you and your dog will be able to enjoy seaside fun on some of the best beaches the UK has to offer…

With around 100 miles of fabulous coastline, there are more than 33 fantastic dog-friendly beaches in Devon, somewhere you can walk your dog on the beach year-round.

Many of the beaches are long and sandy with a backdrop of stunning cliffs, others are delightful coves where your dog can enjoy running free, playing catch and dashing in and out of the sea.

Many of the beaches are long and sandy with a backdrop of stunning cliffs, others are delightful coves where your dog can enjoy running free, playing catch and dashing in and out of the sea. Whilst some beaches have sections of the beach that are dog-free in the summer months, we feature five of our favourite all-year-round dog-friendly beaches where you will find our best PetsPyjamas‘ dog-friendly cottages and hotels in Devon.

1. Salcombe North Sands Beach, Salcombe

salcombe north sands beach, salcombe, dog-friendly beach in devon

In an Area of Outstanding Beauty, North Sands dog-friendly beach is situated between two gorgeous headlands with the South West Coast Path close by. With a great section of sandy beach, there is plenty of space for you and your dog to run around when the tide is out. There is a nearby car park as well as dog-friendly cafés and shops close by. And after you have enjoyed time on the beach, pop along to the charming town of Salcombe for a well-deserved cream tea.

STAY AT: Soar Mill Cove Hotel & Spa, Devon


2. Babbacombe Bay, Babbacombe

babbacombe bay, babbacombe, dog-friendly beach in devon

Another lovely dog-friendly beach, Babbacombe Bay is a mix of sand and shingle, near Torquay. A gorgeous little cove – it is backed by thick wooded cliffs dotted with little houses and above it lies one of PetsPyjamas’ favourite dog-friendly hotels, The Cary Arms. There are fabulous coastal walks along the cliffs to Babbacombe itself or enjoy time on the little sheltered beach where your dog is free to run and play and can swim in the sea year-round.

STAY AT: Cary Arms & Spa, Devon


3. Slapton Sands, Slapton

slapton sands, slapton, dog-friendly beach in devon

Close to Kingsbridge in South Devon, Slapton Sands is a mainly shingle beach, the beach is nevertheless enormous and is backed by Slapton Ley – a freshwater lake. You can access this dog-friendly beach from the car park at Torcross or from the car parks near Strete Gate Beach or the central monument. A lovely year-round dog-friendly beach with a three-mile walking route to enjoy – it also has plenty of history attached as the beach was used for rehearsals for the D-Day invasion.

STAY AT: The Whitehouse Hotel, Devon


4. Thurlestone Beach, Kingsbridge

thurlestone beach, kingsbridge, dog-friendly beach in devon

About eight miles from Salcombe is the lovely unspoilt beach of Thurlestone. Its wonderful clear water has won this dog-friendly beach a Marine Conservation award and because the beach shelves very gradually it is particularly popular with families and coastal canines that enjoy a dip in the sea. There is a lovely walk that leads all the way to Bantham and we also suggest popping into the Beach House at South Milton where you can enjoy delicious dressed crab or mussels with Fido by your side.

STAY AT: Thurlestone Hotel, Devon


5. Beesands Beach, Salcombe

beesands beach, salcombe, dog-friendly beach in devon

Another lovely South Devon beach near to Kingsbridge is Beesands – a long pebble beach looking out over Start Bay where your four-legged friend is free to run year-round.

Parking is right by this delightful dog-friendly beach and with a mile-long beach backed by fields and a freshwater lake, this is unspoilt Devon at its best.

You can also watch the fishing boats come in with the catch of the day. Sample some yourself at the dog-friendly Britannia Beach Café for a catch-of-the-day lunch or a Devon cream tea.

STAY AT: Kittiwake, Devon


6. Saunton Sands, near Braunton

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Saunton Sands is a super dog-friendly beach with three and a half miles of sand that provides a fabulous playground for your dog to sniff around here and splash into the water.

With dunes at the back of the beach, there are plenty of opportunities for chasing balls – and although there is a small area of the beach off limits during the summer months there’s still plenty of space to play and afterwards, you can enjoy a well-earned rest on the balcony of the Beachside Grill. 

STAY AT: Devonair, Devon


7. East Portlemouth

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Dog-friendly year-round, East Portlemouth is in an Area of Outstanding Beauty. Much less busy than some nearby beaches like Salcombe is a series of small secluded bays with shallow waters which at high tide, are great for swimming for both you and your pet to enjoy.

With parking and the Venus cafe serving organic food, the beach is great for building sandcastles and there are wonderful walks close by along the National Trust Coast Path.

STAY AT: 3 Moult Farm Cottage, Devon


8. Clovelly Beach, near Bideford

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Clovelly Beach welcomes dogs year-round and is right next to the South West Coast Path. The area between Clovelly and Mouthmill is most certainly one of the most beautiful parts of this walking trail and so ideal for a coastal as well as beach walk with your dog.

A sheltered pebble beach, the village of Clovelly is car-free so you need to walk down a  narrow cobbled path to the beach but it’s worth the effort and your dog will love frolicking in the sand. There are an array of dog-friendly cafes and pubs in the picturesque village.   

STAY AT: Chapman House, Devon


9. Woolacombe Beach

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Image source: Woolacombe Tourism

Often voted one of the top beaches in the UK – Woolacombe Beach is a gorgeous three-mile stretch of golden sand that your dog will love! Although there are restrictions in the summer months – south of Mill Rock dogs are welcome year-round.

A magnet for surfers, this gorgeous beach is a must. The village and seaside town of Woolacombe is charming too with several pubs, restaurants and cafés, perfect for chilling out after a day on the beach.

STAY AT: Surf View, Devon


10. Gara Rock Beach

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Image source: Gara Rock

An unspoilt sandy cove in South Devon, also known as Seacombe Sands, is famous for its sunsets. This secluded and unspoilt beach with rocks and caves to explore is very much a secret location among locals and dog-owning holidaymakers who have discovered its charms.

Just across the estuary from Salcombe – take the dog-friendly ferry – and with beach facilities just a short 15-minute walk from the car park at Mill Bay which is dog-friendly year-round, and well worth a visit!

STAY AT: Cola’s Tonne, Devon

Share your favourite dog-friendly beaches in Devon you have visited with your furry friend below and we may even feature you on our Socials!