The Salt Path: Iconic Filming Locations along the South West Coast Path
Follow in the footsteps of Raynor and Moth Winn and explore the beautiful places that featured in The Salt...
by Maria Makepeace / Beaches
South Devon is home to an impressive variety of dog-friendly beaches, ranging from expansive sandy bays to secluded coves, making it the perfect playground for your four-legged friend. We’ve created a whistle-stop guide to some of our favourite dog-friendly beaches in South Devon to help you really maximise your time on our sandy shores.
Feel the sand and sea between your paws during the day before heading off to one of many dog-friendly eateries for an evening feast. South Devon is the ideal destination for holidaying with your pet.
Please note that some beaches listed in this article are seasonally dog-friendly and do not allow dogs all year round.
Read on for our full guide to dog-friendly beaches in South Devon, or use the quick links below to find a beach near your holiday accommodation:
About a mile from Salcombe, North Sands is dog-friendly all year round. It’s a popular sandy cove just a short walk from Salcombe town centre, with all the facilities you need for a day at the beach!
The popular Winking Prawn restaurant serves delicious seafood and overlooks the beach. But best of all, they welcome clean, well-behaved four-legged customers.
Another popular dog-friendly beach in Salcombe is the Blue Flag award-winning South Sands Beach. This beach is dog-friendly from the start of October to the end of April, and is accessible on foot, or for those with limited mobility or little legs, you may prefer to take the South Sands ferry.
There’s a small car park with public toilets as well as a National Trust car park, roughly a 5-minute walk from the beach. Alternatively, you can walk along the road from North Sands. You’ll also find a small cafe and beach shop.
For those looking for a beach holiday away from the crowds, East Portlemouth is well worth a visit. Dog-friendly year-round, East Portlemouth is home to a number of small secluded bays with shallow, sheltered waters providing the perfect conditions for swimming. Be sure to get both you and your pooch in the water.
There’s parking, disabled access to the beach, toilets, and cafes nearby, so you can make a full day of it. For a break from the beach, why not walk up the hill out of East Portlemouth to the Village Farm Cafe and Shop, where you can enjoy a delectable lunch… and the dog can stretch their legs en route. This picturesque stroll takes 20-30 minutes and is well worth the journey.
East Portlemouth doesn’t just offer beaches that are perfect for swimming and building sandcastles; it’s also a great place to take in the local scenery with a walk along the National Trust Coast Path. You and your pooch will love the feel of the wind blowing through your fur.
Saltwater and sunsets are one of our favourite combinations for any seaside holiday, and Gara Rock Beach has some of the best. This secluded and unspoilt beach is a much-loved ‘secret’ spot among locals and holidaymakers alike.
Situated between East Portlemouth and East Prawle, Gara Rock beach is easily accessible via a scenic coastal path walk from Mill Bay (East Portlemouth) or via the main car park (TQ8 8FA). The main car park runs on an honesty system – you’ll find the pay box on the right as you enter the car park. You can then access the beach via a steep coastal path down.
A bonus of this glorious beach is that it’s dog-friendly year-round, so you can frolic and play to your heart’s content. This is why it’s one of the most popular dog-friendly beaches in South Devon!
Only accessible by foot via the South West Coast Path, and tucked in the valley just outside Salcombe, Soar Mill Cove is a hidden treasure. Due to its secluded nature, it offers a perfect, peaceful pit stop along your coastal walk. Dog-friendly year-round, you’ll be sad to miss your chance to walk along its sandy shores. Visitors should just be mindful of the tide, as it could leave you stranded.
You and your furry friends will love the chance of jumping and swimming through the waves to cool off on a hot summer day, before heading on your way to Soar Mill Cove Hotel for a quick bite to eat.
Hope Cove is a picturesque historic fishing village that consists of two beaches: Mouthwell Sands and Harbour Beach. Both Hope Cove beaches back onto the village, providing excellent facilities and beachside eateries, making it popular with families, walkers, and dog-lovers.
Mouthwell Sands welcomes our four-legged friends from the end of September through to the end of April, whereas Harbour Beach is dog-friendly year-round. Both Hope Cove beaches offer an array of activities for all. From swimming and building sandcastles to watching the fishing boats haul in their catch and marvelling at breathtaking views.
One of South Devon’s most famous and well-known beaches, Bigbury-on-Sea is popular with locals and visitors alike. Overlooked by the imposing Burgh Island, this expansive sandy beach is lapped by clear, shallow waters.
During low tide, you can reach Burgh Island on foot and explore the top of the island, or grab a bite to eat in The Pilchard Inn. At high tide, ride the sea tractor and take in the novelty of this tall, waterfaring tractor (cash only).
Dogs are welcome on the main beach from October to May, with the beach to the west of the causeway welcoming dogs throughout the year. There is plenty of parking, a beach shop, cafe, and Discovery Surf school where you can hire surfboards, paddleboards, kayaks and more.
Renowned as South Devon’s best surfing beach, Bantham is a must-visit beach when on holiday in the region. At low tide, Bantham Beach opens up to acres of sand and a patchwork of shallow pools, creating the ultimate play area for canine companions.
Ideal for tiring out your pup, you can also take a scenic walk up the estuary or venture further afield to Thurlestone or Aveton Gifford.
Dogs are welcome from October to May, and ‘River Beach’, situated beside the estuary at the south end of Bantham beach, is dog-friendly year-round.
Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the National Trust-owned South Milton Sands beach has everything from sand, sea, scenery, and rare wildlife. The wonderful beach is dog-friendly year-round, as is its neighbour, Thurlestone Beach.
Both beaches offer some amazing opportunities for your pooch to stretch its legs on a sandy runway at low tide. It’s also popular amongst families due to shallow rock pools showing up at low tide.
The nearby village of Thurlestone offers a shop with beachside essentials as well as a pub The Village Inn, for a bite to eat.
Located near Dartmouth and less than half a mile from Dartmouth Castle, you will (if you are lucky!) find Sugary Cove. A remote shingle and rock beach where dogs are welcome all year round. Nestled in a nook tucked into the wooded cliffs, it is accessed by a steep, winding downhill path.
This beach is only visible at low tide, so you’ll be forgiven if you miss it. If you do manage to find yourself on its shores, remember to keep an eye on the tide.
Lapped by clear blue waters and surrounded by evergreens and pines, Blackpool Sands is a must-visit for all. This Blue Flag award-winning beach is a beautiful natural treasure in Start Bay.
This cove is perfect for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and splashing around with your four-legged friends. But keep in mind, there is a seasonal dog ban here from 1st May to 30th September.
After a cool winter walk and a splash around, why not finish off with a meal at the popular Blackpool Sands Cafe? Before heading back to your accommodation to warm up by the open fire!
Dog-friendly year-round, Slapton Sands is a three-mile shingle stretch of beach, incorporating both Strete Gate and Torcross Beach. It plays a very important role in the survival of some of the UK’s rarest flora and fauna. Also home to the unique Slapton Ley – a freshwater lake just metres from the sea – this unusual and beautiful stretch is teeming with wildlife, and is a rarely found natural gem.
The area is completely level, with plenty of parking, watersports facilities, walking routes, and it even has some great dog-friendly eateries. With lifeguards patrolling the beach and a flag system in place during the summer months, this beach is extremely safe and a favourite for those looking for the perfect beach holiday and wilderness combination.
Come down early in the morning and watch the fishing boats head out in search of their ‘Catch of the Day’. Or keep your eyes on the water’s edge to catch a glimpse of ‘Sinbad’, the resident seal.
Just south of Torcross is the award-winning shingle beach of Beesands. The village has all the ingredients needed for the perfect beach holiday. Welcoming you and your canine companions year-round, it’s a great place to spend your day.
Start your walk from the beach and follow the South West Coast Path to Hallsands, another small dog-friendly shingle beach, or head into Beesands for a bite to eat at one of two dog-friendly eateries (Britannia @ The Beach and The Cricket Inn).
Located towards the southern end of Start Bay, Hallsands Beach is a popular spot with those in search of seclusion and solitude.
Situated directly on the South West Coast Path, it boasts walks in both directions. It comes as no surprise that this beach’s shingle shores are one of the most favoured dog-friendly beaches in South Devon. What’s more this stretch of coastline is steeped in history, with tales of shipwrecks, and the forgotten village of South Hallsands.
Ayrmer Cove is another wonderful year-round dog-friendly beach in South Devon. This remote yet picturesque cove is a 20-minute walk from the car park and can only be accessed on foot along the coast path.
If you’re up for a challenge, follow the coastal path up and over to Wyscombe Beach or beyond. This little stretch of coastal path is a strenuous one, but we can assure you it’s well worth the hike. Keep your eyes peeled for adders, slow worms, ground-nesting birds, and other wildlife on your walk down to the beach.
At low tide, the colourful rock pools will also be filled with marine life, so be sure to take a look.
Situated on the Erme Estuary, opposite Mothercombe Beach, Wonwell Beach is a lesser-known gem in Bigbury Bay. Extremely popular with locals due to its quiet nature, it makes for a great dog-friendly beach.
Wonwell Beach is within walking distance of the village of Kingston, where you’ll find plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants for a spot of lunch. Parking for this beach is very limited and down a narrow single-lane track, with limited passing spaces.
For those looking for a blustery winter walk, venture into Wonwell before returning to the Dolphin Inn in Kingston to warm up – dogs are welcome on the beach, and in the pub all year round.
To the west of Start Point, on a particularly rugged stretch of coastline, you will find the secluded beach of Lannacombe. It’s perfect for those looking to leave the crowds behind and experience some of the epic scenery this area provides.
Dogs are welcome all year round, making this the perfect spot for you and your furry friend. The car park is small with space for around 15 cars, so arrive early and make the most of this quiet sandy beach.
Kingsbridge and Dartmouth are both close at hand, offering boat excursions, local attractions, and an array of shops, pubs, cafes, and restaurants, so you can make a day of it.
Is your dog a little reactive, or not so keen on busy beaches? Mattiscombe Beach, like Lannacombe, may just tick all the boxes. Known as one of the most secluded dog-friendly beaches in South Devon, it’s located just to the west of Start Point and around the corner from Hallsands and Slapton Sands. It also offers beautiful views of the surrounding scenery.
The beach is accessed along the South West Coast Path, so it will give you and your four-legged friend a good stretch of their legs before they even reach the sand. The interesting rock formations along the beach serve as a divide and cast other-worldly shapes during sunset.
Fancy incorporating a dog-friendly walk into your day? Check out our top 3 dog-friendly walks in South Devon.
At Coast & Country Cottages, we love dogs and are proud of the wealth of dog-friendly beaches Devon has to offer. We have many dog-friendly properties, including dog-friendly cottages near the beach and stunning luxury dog-friendly retreats!
Take a look at our collection of Pets Go Free properties, too; all properties accept at least one dog free of charge.
From secluded farm cottages with large gardens to picture-perfect coastal cottages and country escapes nestled in Salcombe, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and more, we have the ideal dog-friendly property for you and your four-legged friend.
Book your dog friendly holiday today
There are tons of beaches in South Devon that allow dogs year-round. Here is a selection:
Blackpool Sands has a seasonal dog ban from the beginning of May to the end of September. However, the cafe directly on the beach is dog-friendly outside this seasonal ban. Alternatively, nearby Torcross, Dartmouth, and Kingsbridge all offer a wide selection of dog-friendly eateries.
Yes, dogs can go on the South Sands ferry. It runs from Whitestrand (Salcombe town centre) to South Sands. There is a seasonal ban on South Sands Beach from 1st May to 30th September, however, dogs are permitted to cross on the ferry during these dates
All beaches across South Devon allow dogs, however, here are some general rules and what varies by area:
Salcombe is one of South Devon’s most popular tourist hotspots, so it’s only natural that you’d want to know of dog-friendly things to do in and around Salcombe when holidaying with your pooch. Here are our favourite dog-friendly things to do around Salcombe:
The simple answer is yes, there are several beaches near Dartmouth that are dog-friendly. Some welcome dogs year-round whilst others have seasonal bans during the summer months. Slapton Sands is accessible and dog-friendly year round, along with the secluded coves of Castle Cove and Sugary Cove.
South Devon is a paradise for both humans and four-legged friends.
Our aim is to make your holiday as stress-free as possible, so download our pet-friendly holiday guide ‘South Devon Loves Dogs’ to find out more about the dog-friendly attractions, eateries and holiday homes in our region.
Download our dog-friendly holiday guide
by Maria Makepeace / Beaches
I love the South West and ensuring visitors to the region have the best experience possible. That's why I love sharing local tips ...
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