Devon has two coastlines, which means dog owners get a huge amount of choice when planning a trip. The trouble is the rules change depending on where you go and what time of year it is. Some beaches welcome dogs every single day, others put a ban in place over the busy summer months.
If you turn up at the wrong beach in August with the dog in the boot, you could find yourself turned away at the slipway. A bit of planning saves that headache. Follow along as we map out the beaches coast by coast, point you to the best walks, and cover where to stay.
Which Devon Beaches Allow Dogs All Year
Plenty of Devon beaches are happy to have dogs no matter the season. Saunton Sands on the north coast is one of the best, with over three miles of wide, golden sand and no seasonal ban. Dogs aren’t allowed north of the slipway, but the rest of the beach is open to them all year round.
Woolacombe operates a zone system over summer. The northern end near the Esplanade is dog-free from April to September, dogs need to be on a lead between the stream and Mill Rock from May to September, and south of Mill Rock they can run free all year. Again, make sure to check the zoning map before you head down.
Other good options vary by beach, so make sure to read the small print. At Hope Cove the Harbour beach takes dogs all year, though on a lead, while the neighbouring Mouthwell Sands closes to them from 1 May to 30 September. Smaller coves often have no restrictions at all, simply because they don’t draw the summer crowds.
The busier resort beaches are where you need to be careful. Croyde brings in a seasonal ban from 1 May to 30 September, with dogs allowed on the dunes on a lead during those months.
Blackpool Sands near Dartmouth has a full ban over the same dates as a Blue Flag beach, with dogs welcome only from October to April. Outside those dates far more of the coast opens up, so a spring or autumn trip beats a peak summer one. Despite the name, Blackpool Sands is actually fine shingle, not sand, so it’s better suited to swimming and watersports than sandcastle building.
Best Dog Friendly Walks Inland
The beaches are only half the story. Devon has some excellent walking that keeps dogs happy well away from the tide.
The roughly 30-mile stretch of the Tarka Trail between Braunton and Meeth is a brilliant option, flat and traffic-free along an old railway line, and you can pick up or drop off at plenty of points. The wider Tarka Trail loops much further inland and gets hilly in places, so stick to the railway section if you want easy going.
The Two Moors Way is a tougher proposition, crossing both Dartmoor and Exmoor, but the open moorland is hard to beat if your dog likes a proper stretch of the legs. Watch for livestock and keep them on the lead from 1 March to 31 July, which covers the lambing and nesting season.
Where to Stay With Your Dog
A self-catering cottage tends to work better than a hotel for a coastal holiday. You get your own space, a kitchen, and the freedom to come and go around the tide and the weather instead of fitting in with set meal times. After a muddy walk you can towel the dog down at the door rather than worrying about a smart lobby.
Bringing a dog narrows things down a bit, since not every property takes pets, but there’s still a wide choice if you know where to look. Many Devon coastal cottages come with enclosed gardens, which makes life much easier in the mornings and evenings. On Beach Stays you can filter the cottages by whether they allow pets, so you only see the ones that actually welcome your dog.
It’s worth thinking about location too. A handful of villages sit right on the coast path, which means you can step out of the door and onto a clifftop walk before breakfast. Those spots are gold if you’ve got an early-rising dog.
What to Check Before You Go
A few quick checks make the trip run smoothly. Beach rules can change from one year to the next, so confirm the dates before you set off rather than relying on an old sign.
- Current seasonal dog bans for your chosen beach
- Whether the cottage charges extra per dog
- If the garden is fully enclosed
- Lead rules on nearby farmland and moorland
- The nearest vet, just in case
In a Nutshell
Devon is one of the best counties in the country for a dog friendly break, as long as you do a little homework first. Knowing which beaches stay open all year and which close over summer means you’ll never be caught out at the gate.
Pick the right base, plan your walks around the tide, and you and the dog will get the most out of both coastlines. Spring and autumn trips give you the run of nearly every beach, which is something worth keeping in mind when you book.
