A day out at the seaside is a great activity for families during the sunny summer months - but sadly it's one that can't be enjoyed with pet dogs.
Councils up and down the UK have imposed restrictions that ban dogs from visiting the beach during busy seasons.
Some are in place as early as May and as late as September, reports Devon Live.
If you're thinking of taking your four-legged friend on a trip to Cornwall or Devon this year, you'll want to check the full list of beaches below.
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East Devon
- According to East Devon District Council (EDDC), owners can walk their dogs on all East Devon beaches between 1 October and 30 April.
- Exmouth beach - Dogs are allowed all year at the two ends of the beach from the third break water east and from the Octagon café west. Dogs are prohibited from the centre portion of the beach from May 1 to September 30.
- Sidmouth Town Beach - Dogs are allowed all year on Port Royal beach at the eastern end of the prom. Dogs are banned from the main town beach from May 1 to September 30.
- Sidmouth Jacobs Ladder beach - Dogs are banned from the immediate area of Jacobs ladder from May 1 to September 30. They are permitted on the west end of the beach starting circa 100m from the ladder.
- Seaton Beach - Dogs are allowed at the two ends of Seaton beach all year. Dogs are banned from the middle section between May 1 and September 30.
- Beer Beach - Dogs are allowed on the eastern half of beer beach all year. Dogs are banned from the western half from May 1 to September 30.
- Budleigh Salterton Beach - Dogs are allowed all year at either end of the beach, east from Lime Kiln carpark, and West from the west end of the prom. Dogs are banned from the centre portion of the beach between May 1 and September 30.
Torbay
According to Torbay Harbour, dogs are not allowed on certain beaches from 1 May to 30 September each year.
During this time period, dogs must also be kept on a lead on promenades adjacent to the beaches where dogs are not allowed.
The beaches include:
- Breakwater Beach
- Broadsands Beach
- Corbyn Head
- Goodrington Sands - South Sands: between the cliffs at the southern end and the signs at Middlestone to the North
- Hollicombe Beach
- Meadfoot Beach- South western part between notices displayed on the foreshore
- Oddicombe Beach
- Paignton Sands
- Preston Sands
- Shoalstone Pool
- Torre Abbey Sands
North Devon
According to North Devon Council, dogs are allowed on all NDC-owned beaches, the only applicable provisions of the PSPO being those which are district-wide (picking up after your dog, placing your dog on a lead when requested).
The dog-friendly beaches include:
- Capstone
- Hele bay
- Ilfracombe harbour
- Larkstone
- Lee Bay
- Sandy Cove (Bath Beach), Lee
- Raparee
- Wildersmouth
Cornwall
According to Cornwall Council, dogs are restricted on some beaches as one of several Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs).
If a person were to breach the restrictions, they could face a fine ranging from £100 to £1,000.
The following beaches restrict dogs from visiting between 10am and 6pm from July 1 to August 31:
- Cadgwith Cove
- Castle Beach
- Cawsand Beach
- Chapel Porth Beach
- Church Cove
- Harveys Towans (Godrevy Point, Hayle)
- Housel Bay
- Kennack Sands Beach
- Kynance Cove
- Maenporth Beach
- Mousehole Beach to Skilly Beach
- Wherry Town to Battery Rocks
- Longrock level crossing to Marazion
- Perranuthnoe
- Poldu Beach
- Polurrian Cove Beach
- Porthcurno
- Porthgwarra Beach
- Porthgwidden Beach
- Porthleven West
- Porthpean Beach
- Portmellon Cove
- Porthreath Beach including Harbour
- Praa Sands Beach
- Readymoney Cove
- St George's Well
- St Ives Harbour Beach
- Summer's Beach
- Swanpool Beach
- Tattam's Beach
- Tunnel Beach
There are also several Cornish beaches which have restrictions that run from May 15 to September 30.
These are beaches with Blue Flag and Seaside Awards so are required to have longer restrictions. These also operate from 10am to 6pm.
The beaches are:
- Carbis Bay Beach
- Crackington Haven
- Crooklets Beach
- Gyllyngvase Beach
- Polzeath Beach
- Porth Beach
- Porthmeor Beach
- Porthminister Beach
- Porthtowan Beach
- Sennen Beach
- Trevone Beach
- Widemouth Beach
The following three beaches prohibit dogs from visiting all year round, 24 hours a day:
- Carnsew Pool
- Copperhouse Pool
- Hayle Estuary
Do you have a dog story to tell? Contact nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
