With several bank holidays this month and summer quickly approaching, families across the nation will be keen to take a trip to the beach for a bit of sun, sea and sand.
But from May 1 every year, dozens of popular beaches across the UK implement an annual five-month ban on canines at peak times.
Local councils use a range of methods to enforce the bans and some use by-laws which can result in fines for offenders. These do not apply to guide dogs.
If you're planning a beach day with your four-legged friend in Cornwall, Devon or Wales this year, you'll want to check out the list of locations below.
East Devon
Pet owners can walk their dogs on all East Devon beaches between October 1 and April 30, but they are prohibited between May 1 and September 30.
According to East Devon District Council (EDDC), Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Beer and Seaton beaches all have dog exclusion areas from this month.
Torbay
Dogs are not allowed on certain beaches in Torbay from May 1 to September 30 every year, according to Torbay Harbour.
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
Dogs are allowed on all beaches owned by North Devon Council. These canine-friendly beaches include:
Privately-owned beaches in North Devon have different rules and regulations. You can view the specifics for these online.
Cornwall
According to Cornwall Council, dogs are restricted on some beaches in Cornwall during the summer and owners can risk a fine of up 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)
Hoodny Beach, Portwrinkle
- 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
Porth Beach
- Porthcurno Beach
- Porthgwarra Beach
- Porthgwidden Beach
- Porthleven West
- Porthpean Beach
- Portmellon Cove
- Porthreath Beach including Harbour
Portwrinkle 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 that have restrictions running from May 15 to September 30 from 10am to 6pm. These beaches are:
- Carbis Bay Beach
- Crackington Haven
- Crooklets Beach
- Gyllyngvase Beach
- Polzeath 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
Wales
From May, dogs are not allowed on certain beaches in Wales. Here is the full list according to Wales Online:
Anglesey
Dogs are currently restricted from areas at seven of Anglesey's beaches. These include:
- Beaumaris
- Benllech
- Cemaes Bay
- Llanddwyn, Newborough
- Llanddona
- Trearddur Bay
- Porth Dafarch
At Benllech, Cemaes Bay, and Trearddur Bay dogs must be kept on their leads on the promenades.
Bridgend
- Rest Bay (Rest Point until Golf Bay)
- Town Beach
- Coney Beach
- Trecco Bay
Carmarthenshire
Partial bans at:
Cefn Sidan: with a dog-free zone on just one mile of its length between May and September dogs and their owners can still enjoy seven miles of golden sands even in the summer months.
Llansteffan: the beach in Llansteffan has restrictions where a strip of beach is inaccessible to dogs and is clearly marked with signs.
Pendine: the dog restrictions at Pendine beach apply to the section between the two slipways.
Conwy
- Rhos on Sea Beach (between Rhos Point and the eastern end of the Cayley Promenade)
- Colwyn Bay Beach (between the Victoria Pier and the entrance to Eirias Park).
- Pensarn Beach (between the embedded wooden posts by the café and the embedded concrete posts at the western end of the promenade).
- Kinmel Bay Beach (between Dinas Avenue, Kinmel Bay and Sandbank Road Towyn)
- Llandudno North Shore Beach (from Llandudno Pier to Clarence Road)
- Llandudno West Shore Beach (between the two stone groynes)
- Penmaenmawr Beach (from the east side of the café to the sailing club slipway)
- Llanfairfechan Beach (between the 2 slipways extending down from the promenade to the Low Water Mark)
- Small Sandy Beach at Rhos Point, Rhos on Sea (all year)
Ceredigion
Full ban:
- Mwnt
- Penbryn
Partial ban:
- Aberaeron south
- Aberporth
- Aberystwyth north
- Clarach
- Aberystwyth south
- Borth
- Llangrannog
- Tresaith
- New Quay-Harbour
Denbighshire
While the restrictions are in place, you can only take your dog to the designated dog exercise areas. These are:
- The beach area from Old Golf Road, Rhyl, eastwards to Ffrith Festival Gardens, Prestatyn
- The area to the east of The Sailing Club at Barkby Beach, Prestatyn
There are signs and maps on the beach to show where you can take your dog during the summer months.
Gwynedd
Aberdyfi
- Tywyn
- Fairbourne
- Barmouth
- Bennar
- Llandanwg
- Harlech
- Morfa Bychan - Black Rock Sands
- Criccieth - promenade beach
- Criccieth - marine beach
- Pwllheli - Glan Don
- Pwllheli - Marian-y-De
- Abersoch
- Aberdaron
- Porth Oer
- Porth Towyn
- Morfa Nefyn
- Dinas Dinlle
- Nefyn
Many of these bans are partial bans. You'll find maps detailing the areas that are banned here.
Neath Port Talbot
- Aberavon
Pembrokeshire
Full ban:
- Tenby north beach
- Whitesands, St David's
And a partial ban at:
- Lydstep
- Newgale beach and promenade
- Saundersfoot beach and promenade
- Tenby Castle and south beach
- Amroth beach and promenade
- Poppit Sands
- Broad Haven (north)
- Dale
Swansea
- Swansea Bay: from the River Tawe to the slip opposite Victoria Park and from the beach access at Sketty Lane to the northern edge of the slip at the West Cross Inn
- Bracelet Bay
- Limeslade Bay
- Rotherslade Bay
- Langland Bay
- Caswell Bay
- Port Eynon beach: from the eastern edge of the steps to Port Eynon beach to the eastern edge of Horton beach access
Vale of Glamorgan
- Whitmore Bay (Barry Island)
- Cold Knap
- Penarth seafront
- Dunraven Bay (Southerndown)
- Cwm Colhuw (Llantwit)
