Paws on the SandPaws Diary

Can my dog go on the beach?

Dog rules on UK beaches change council by council. Pick a day and tap any beach on the map to see when dogs are allowed.

Dogs allowed Banned (some hours or season) Leads required Banned all year Dog-friendly places
Tap a pin to see its rules. Use two fingers to move or zoom the map on a phone, or pick a region above. "Near me" shows what's around you.

New from Paws on the Sand

Turn every beach day into your dog's own book

The Paws Diary keeps your dog's best moments in one place. Add a photo or a short video, say a line about the day, and it builds a digital book you can keep, share, or have printed.

  • Snap, add a few words or dictate them, done
  • One beautiful book a year, puppyhood to grey muzzle
  • Printed copies whenever you want one
  • Export everything, any time
Launching 2027 Join the waitlist

Beaches

For dog-friendly businesses

Put your business on the map

Dog owners use this page to plan their beach days. A listing puts your café, pub, holiday let or shop on the map next to the beaches they're heading for, with a description and a link to your website or booking page.

Founding listingFree this winter
  • Pin on the map near your nearest beach
  • Short description and what you offer dogs
  • Link to your website or booking page
From spring 2027Featured listing
  • Everything in a founding listing
  • Photo and longer description
  • Shown first in your area
£75 a year, or £95 for holiday lets and campsites. Founding businesses pay £45 for their first year if they upgrade by 31 March 2027.

Add your business, free

The purple squares on the map are examples of how a listing would look.

Most beaches are openThis list covers council-restricted beaches. Most other UK beaches allow dogs all year, but private, National Trust and nature reserve beaches can set their own rules.
The fineIgnoring a beach restriction usually means a £100 fixed penalty notice, and up to £1,000 if it goes to court.
Zones, not whole beachesMany restrictions cover only part of a beach. Look for the signs, and use the council link on each beach for exact boundaries.
Moors, heaths and downsOn open access land in England, dogs must be on a lead of two metres or less from 1 March to 31 July, and near livestock all year. Landowners like the National Trust and RSPB can add their own rules.
Scotland is differentScottish beaches have very few seasonal bans. The main rule is the Outdoor Access Code: keep dogs under control, and away from nesting birds and livestock.