Dornoch Beach
Highlands
Dornoch Beach is a wide, award-winning sandy beach at the historic town of Dornoch, famous for its medieval cathedral (scene of the last judicial burning for witchcraft in Scotland in 1722) and the Royal Dornoch Golf Course, consistently rated one of the top links courses in the world. The beach is wide and backed by dunes, with the golf course running alongside. Madonna married Guy Ritchie at Dornoch Cathedral, adding a curious celebrity footnote to an otherwise deeply historic town.
No dog restrictions apply at Dornoch Beach. Year-round access. One of the finest beaches on the east Highlands coast.
At a Glance
- Dog Access
- Year Round
- Beach Type
- Sand, Dunes
- Tide Notes
- East-facing Dornoch Firth beach. Wide sands. Generally sheltered.
- Facilities
- Royal Dornoch Golf Club. Dornoch Cathedral. Town cafes, pubs, shops. Public toilets. Car park at beach
- Parking
- Car parks in Dornoch and at the beach. Well signposted
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Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Dornoch Beach, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in HighlandsDog Friendly Hotels Nearby
The closest dog friendly hotels to Dornoch Beach. Every dog fact comes from the hotel's own website.
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What’s Nearby?
Beach2.3 mi awayEmbo Beach
Highlands
A sandy east Sutherland beach at Embo just north of Dornoch with year-round dog access, backing onto the famous Dornoch links golf course coastline.
Beach6.8 mi awayGolspie Beach
Highlands
A long sandy east Sutherland beach dominated by Dunrobin Castle above, with year-round dog access and woodland walks around the castle, though dogs are not allowed in the castle or its formal gardens.
Walk7.3 mi awayBig Burn Gorge and Waterfall, Golspie
Highlands
Five footbridge crossings over a tumbling burn make this steep Golspie gorge walk a treat for dogs, ending at a waterfall and an old skating pond.
Beach7.9 mi awayPortmahomack Beach
Highlands
A sandy beach at the picturesque fishing village of Portmahomack on the Tarbat peninsula with year-round dog access and the excellent Tarbat Discovery Centre nearby.
Walk7.9 mi awayTarbat Ness Lighthouse Circuit from Portmahomack
Highlands
A long 14km shoreline circuit gives dogs beach after beach to paddle in, ending with Robert Stevenson's Tarbat Ness lighthouse and medieval Ballone Castle for their humans.
Beach9.6 mi awayBalintore Beach
Highlands
A quiet sandy beach at the east Ross village of Balintore near the famous Hilton of Cadboll Pictish stone, with year-round dog access and good connections to the area's outstanding Pictish heritage.